# Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Final 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2024-05093 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Rule - **Published:** March 11, 2024 - **Citation:** 89 FR 17287 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 240304-0068] RTID 0648-XD454 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Final 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule; harvest specifications and closures. SUMMARY: NMFS announces the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the remainder of the 2024 and the start of the 2025 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (FMP). The 2024 harvest specifications supersede those previously set in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications, and the 2025 harvest specifications will be superseded in early 2025 when the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications are published. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). DATES: Harvest specifications and closures are effective from 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 11, 2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision (ROD), and the annual Supplementary Information Reports (SIR) to the Final EIS prepared for this action are available from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska. The 2023 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated November 2023, as well as the SAFE reports for previous years, are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 1007 West Third Ave., Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's website at https://www.npfmc.org/, and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/population-assessments/north-pacific-groundfish-stock-assessments-and-fishery-evaluation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The Council prepared, and NMFS approved, the FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 600. The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after consultation with the Council, to specify annually the total allowable catch (TAC) for each target species category. The sum of all TACs for groundfish species in the BSAI must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see §§ 679.20(a)(1)(i)(A) and 679.20(a)(2)). This final rule specifies the sum of the TAC at 2.0 million mt for 2024 and 2.0 million mt for 2025. NMFS also must specify: (1) apportionments of TAC; (2) prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by § 679.21; (3) seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel TAC; (4) American Fisheries Act (AFA) allocations; (5) Amendment 80 allocations; (6) Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts established by § 679.20(b)(1)(ii); (7) acceptable biological catch (ABC) surpluses and reserves for CDQ groups and any Amendment 80 cooperatives for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole; and (8) halibut discard mortality rates (DMR). The final harvest specifications set forth in tables 1 through 26 of this action satisfy these requirements. Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires that NMFS consider public comment on the proposed harvest specifications and, after consultation with the Council, publish final harvest specifications in the Federal Register . The proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2023 (88 FR 84278). Comments were invited and accepted through January 4, 2024. As discussed in the Response to Comments section below, NMFS received 5 letters raising 17 distinct comments during the public comment period for the proposed BSAI groundfish harvest specifications. NMFS's responses are addressed in the Response to Comments section below. NMFS consulted with the Council on the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications during the December 2023 Council meeting. After considering public comments during public meetings and submitted for the proposed rule (88 FR 84278, December 5, 2023), as well as current biological, ecosystem, and socioeconomic data, NMFS implements in this final rule the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications as recommended by the Council. ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications The final ABC amounts for Alaska groundfish are based on the best available biological information, including projected biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In general, the development of ABCs and overfishing levels (OFL) involves sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations. The FMP specifies a series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts based on the level of reliable information available to fishery scientists. Tier 1 represents the highest level of information quality available, while Tier 6 represents the lowest. In December 2023, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed current biological, ecosystem, socioeconomic, and harvest information about the condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks. The Council's BSAI Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team) compiled and presented this information in the 2023 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2023 (see ADDRESSES ). The SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available information on the BSAI ecosystem and the economic condition of groundfish fisheries off Alaska. NMFS notified the public of the comment period for these harvest specifications—and of the publication of the 2023 SAFE report—in the proposed harvest specifications (88 FR 84278, December 5, 2023). From the data and analyses in the SAFE report, the Plan Team recommended an OFL and ABC for each species and species group at the November 2023 Plan Team meeting. In December 2023, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's recommendations. The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs, and were adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including the maintenance of the sum of all the TACs within the required OY range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As required by annual catch limit rules for all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16, 2009) and consistent with the FMP, none of the Council's recommended 2024 or 2025 TACs exceed the final 2024 or 2025 ABCs for any species or species group. NMFS finds that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the preferred harvest strategy outlined in the FMP, as well as the Final EIS and ROD, and the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2023 SAFE report that was approved by the Council, while accounting for ecosystem and socioeconomic information presented in the 2023 SAFE report (which includes the Ecosystem Status Reports (ESR)). Therefore, this final rule provides notification that the Secretary of Commerce approves the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications as recommended by the Council. The 2024 harvest specifications set in this final action supersede the 2024 harvest specifications previously set in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023). The 2024 harvest specifications herein will be superseded in early 2025 when the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications are published. Pursuant to this final action, the 2024 harvest specifications will apply for the remainder of the current year (2024) while the 2025 harvest specifications are projected only for the following year (2025) and will be superseded in early 2025 by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications. Because this final action (published in early 2024) will be superseded in early 2025 by the publication of the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications, it is projected that this final action will implement the harvest specifications for the BSAI for approximately 1 year. Other Actions Affecting the 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications State of Alaska Guideline Harvest Levels For 2024 and 2025, the Board of Fisheries (BOF) for the State of Alaska (State) established the guideline harvest level (GHL) for vessels using pot, longline, jig, and hand troll gear in State waters in the State's Aleutian Islands (AI) State waters sablefish registration area that includes all State waters west of Scotch Cap Light (164° 44.72′ W longitude) and south of Cape Sarichef (54° 36′ N latitude). The 2024 AI GHL is set at 5 percent (1,228 mt) of the combined 2024 Bering Sea subarea (BS) and AI subarea ABC (mt). The 2025 AI GHL is set at 5 percent (1,233 mt) of the combined 2025 BS subarea and AI subarea ABC (mt). The State's AI sablefish registration area includes areas adjacent to parts of the Federal BS subarea. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended that the sum of all State and Federal waters sablefish removals from the BS and AI not exceed the ABC recommendations for sablefish in the BS and AI. Accordingly, after reviewing the Council recommendations, NMFS approves that the 2024 and 2025 sablefish TACs in the BS and AI account for the State's GHLs for sablefish caught in State waters. For 2024 and 2025, the BOF for the State established the GHL for vessels using pot gear in State waters in the BS equal to 12 percent of the Pacific cod ABC in the BS. Under the State's management plan, the BS GHL will increase by 1 percent if 90 percent of the GHL is harvested by November 15 of the preceding year for two consecutive years but may not exceed 15 percent of the BS ABC. If 90 percent of the GHL is not harvested by November 15 of the preceding year for two consecutive years, the GHL will decrease by 1 percent, but the GHL may not decrease below 10 percent of the BS ABC. For 2024, the BS Pacific cod ABC is 167,952 mt, and for 2025, it is 150,876 mt. Therefore, based on the preceding years' harvests, the GHL in the BS for pot gear will be 12 percent for 2024 (20,154 mt) and is projected to be 12 percent for 2025 (18,105 mt). Also, for 2024 and 2025, the BOF established an additional GHL for vessels using jig gear in State waters in the BS equal to 45 mt of Pacific cod in the BS. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended that the sum of all State and Federal waters Pacific cod removals from the BS not exceed the ABC recommendations for Pacific cod in the BS. Accordingly, after reviewing the Council recommendations, NMFS approves that the 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs in the BS account for the State's GHLs for Pacific cod caught in State waters in the BS. For 2024 and 2025, the BOF for the State established the GHL for Pacific cod in State waters in the AI equal to 35 percent of the AI ABC. Under the State's management plan, the AI GHL will increase annually by 4 percent of the AI ABC if 90 percent of the GHL is harvested by November 15 of the preceding year, but may not exceed 39 percent of the AI ABC or 15 million pounds (6,804 mt). If 90 percent of the GHL is not harvested by November 15 of the preceding year for two consecutive years, the GHL will decrease by 4 percent, but the GHL may not decrease below 15 percent of the AI ABC. For 2024 and for 2025, 35 percent of the AI ABC is 4,351 mt. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended that the sum of all State and Federal waters Pacific cod removals from the AI not exceed the ABC recommendations for Pacific cod in the AI. Accordingly, after reviewing the Council's recommendations, NMFS approves that the 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs in the AI account for the State's GHL for Pacific cod caught in State waters in the AI. Halibut Abundance Based Management for the Amendment 80 Program PSC Limit On November 24, 2023, NMFS published a final rule to implement Amendment 123 to the FMP (88 FR 82740), which establishes abundance-based management of the Amendment 80 Program PSC limit for Pacific halibut. The final action replaces the current Amendment 80 sector static halibut PSC limit (1,745 mt) with a process for annually setting the Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit based on the most recent halibut abundance estimates from the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) setline survey index and the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index. The annual process will use a table with pre-established halibut abundance ranges based on those surveys (Table 58 to 50 CFR part 679). The annual Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit will be set at the value found at the intercept of the results from the most recent survey indices. The final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications announce the Amendment 80 halibut PSC limit based on the implementation of Amendment 123 and regulations effective January 1, 2024. Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Limited Access Privilege Program On August 8, 2023, NMFS published a final rule to implement Amendment 122 to the FMP (88 FR 53704, effective September 7, 2023) (see also correction 88 FR 57009, August 22, 2023). The final rule establishes a limited access privilege program called the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program. The PCTC Program allocates Pacific cod quota share (QS) to groundfish License Limitation Program license holders and to processors based on history during the qualifying years. Under this program, QS holders are required to join cooperatives annually. Cooperatives are allocated the BSAI trawl catcher vessel sector's A and B seasons Pacific cod allocation as an exclusive harvest privilege in the form of cooperative quota (CQ), equivalent to the aggregate QS of all cooperative members. Amendment 122 also reduces the halibut and crab PSC limits for the BSAI trawl catcher vessel (CV) Pacific cod fishery, changes the AFA CV sideboard limit for Pacific cod to apply in the C season only, and removes the halibut PSC sideboard limit for AFA trawl CVs. Accordingly, Amendment 122 and its implementing regulations affect the calculation of the BSAI trawl CV sector allocation of Pacific cod (discussed in a subsequent section of this rule titled “Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC”) and the BSAI trawl limited access sector crab and halibut PSC limits (discussed in two subsequent sections of this rule titled “PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring” and “AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits”). Amendment 122 also removed the regulations at § 679.20(a)(7)(viii) for Amendment 113 to the FMP because the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the rule implementing Amendment 113 (see Groundfish Forum v. Ross, 375 F.Supp.3d 72 (D.D.C. 2019)). Changes From the Proposed 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications for the BSAI In October 2023, the Council's recommendations for the proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (88 FR 84278, December 5, 2023) were based largely on information contained in the 2022 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2022. Stocks are managed in tiers based on the amount and quality of information available. There is more information available about stocks in tiers 1 through 3 than is available for those in tiers 4 through 6. In October 2023, the Council recommended that proposed 2024 and 2025 OFLs and ABCs be based on rollovers of the 2024 amounts. In making this recommendation, the Council used the best information available from the 2022 stock assessments until the 2023 SAFE report could be completed. In December 2023, the Council's recommendations for the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications were based largely on information contained in the 2023 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2023. The SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available information on the BSAI ecosystem by including risk tables and information from the BS ESR and AI ESR. The ESRs compile and summarize information about the status of the Alaska marine ecosystems for the Plan Team, SSC, AP, Council, NMFS, and the public. These ESRs are updated annually and include ecosystem report cards, ecosystem assessments, and ecosystem status indicators ( i.e., climate indices, sea surface temperature), which together provide context for ecosystem-based fisheries management in Alaska. The ESRs inform stock assessments and are integrated in the annual harvest recommendations through inclusion in stock assessment-specific risk tables. The ESRs provide context for the SSC's recommendations for OFLs and ABCs, as well as for the Council's TAC recommendations. The SAFE reports and the ESRs are presented to the Plan Team and at the October and December Council meetings before the SSC, AP, and Council make groundfish harvest recommendations and aid NMFS in implementing these annual groundfish harvest specifications. The SAFE report also includes information on the economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska through the Economic Status Report. The SAFE report provides information to the Council and NMFS for recommending and setting, respectively, annual harvest levels for each stock, documenting significant trends or changes in the resource, marine ecosystems, and fisheries over time, and assessing the relative success of existing Federal fishery management programs. From these data and analyses, the Plan Team recommends, and the SSC sets, an OFL and ABC for each species and species group. The Council recommended a final 2024 BS pollock TAC that is a decrease of 2,000 mt from the proposed 2024 BS pollock TAC and is also the same as the 2023 BS pollock TAC. The Council recommended a final 2025 BS pollock TAC that is an increase of 23,000 mt from the proposed 2025 BS pollock TAC to reflect the increase in the 2025 BS pollock ABC. The Council also recommended to increase the BS Pacific cod TAC by 24,458 mt in 2024 and 9,431 mt in 2025 from the proposed TAC. In terms of tonnage, the Council reduced the TACs from the proposed TACs of several species of lower economic value to maintain an overall total TAC within the required OY range of 1.4 to 2.0 million mt with the yellowfin sole TAC accounting for most of the decrease in terms of tonnage. Some species, such as Atka mackerel and northern rockfish, are economically valuable species whose ABCs increased in 2024, which allowed the 2024 TACs to increase as well. Others, such as Alaska plaice and sharks, have increased TACs due to anticipated increased incidental catches in other fisheries. Of these species, sharks had the largest increase in terms of percentage. This is due to an increase in anticipated incidental catch in the pollock fishery. The changes to TACs between the proposed and final harvest specifications are based on the most recent scientific, biological, and socioeconomic information and are consistent with the FMP, regulatory obligations, and harvest strategy as described in the proposed and final harvest specifications, including the required OY range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. These changes are compared in table 1A. Table 1 lists the Council's recommended final 2024 OFL, ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ reserve allocations, and non-specified reserves of the BSAI groundfish species and species groups; and table 2 lists the Council's recommended final 2025 OFL, ABC, TAC, ITAC, CDQ reserve allocations, and non-specified reserves of the BSAI groundfish species and species groups. NMFS concurs with these recommendations. These final 2024 and 2025 TAC amounts for the BSAI are within the OY range established for the BSAI and do not exceed the ABC for any species or species group. The apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and seasons is discussed below. Table 1—Final 2024 OFL, ABC, TAC, Initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ Reserve Allocation, and Nonspecified Reserves of Groundfish in the BSAI 1 [Amounts are in metric tons] Species Area 2024 OFL ABC TAC ITAC 2 CDQ 3 Nonspecified reserves Pollock 4 BS 3,162,000 2,313,000 1,300,000 1,170,000 130,000 AI 51,516 42,654 19,000 17,100 1,900 Bogoslof 115,146 86,360 250 250 Pacific cod 5 BS 200,995 167,952 147,753 131,943 15,810 AI 18,416 12,431 8,080 7,215 865 Sablefish 6 Alaska-wide 55,084 47,146 n/a n/a n/a BS n/a 11,450 7,996 6,597 1,099 300 AI n/a 13,100 8,440 6,858 1,424 158 Yellowfin sole BSAI 305,298 265,913 195,000 174,135 20,865 Greenland turbot BSAI 3,705 3,188 3,188 2,710 n/a BS n/a 2,687 2,687 2,284 288 116 AI n/a 501 501 426 75 Arrowtooth flounder BSAI 103,280 87,690 14,000 11,900 1,498 602 Kamchatka flounder BSAI 8,850 7,498 7,498 6,373 1,125 Rock sole 7 BSAI 197,828 122,091 66,000 58,938 7,062 Flathead sole 8 BSAI 81,605 67,289 35,500 31,702 3,799 Alaska plaice BSAI 42,695 35,494 21,752 18,489 3,263 Other flatfish 9 BSAI 22,919 17,189 4,500 3,825 675 Pacific ocean perch BSAI 49,010 41,096 37,626 33,100 n/a BS n/a 11,636 11,636 9,891 1,745 EAI n/a 7,969 7,969 7,116 853 CAI n/a 5,521 5,521 4,930 591 WAI n/a 15,970 12,500 11,163 1,338 Northern rockfish BSAI 23,556 19,274 16,752 14,239 2,513 Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish 10 BSAI 761 569 569 484 85 BS/EAI n/a 388 388 330 58 CAI/WAI n/a 181 181 154 27 Shortraker rockfish BSAI 706 530 530 451 80 Other rockfish 11 BSAI 1,680 1,260 1,260 1,071 189 BS n/a 880 880 748 132 AI n/a 380 380 323 57 Atka mackerel BSAI 111,684 95,358 72,987 65,177 7,810 BS/EAI n/a 41,723 32,260 28,808 3,452 CAI n/a 16,754 16,754 14,961 1,793 WAI n/a 36,882 23,973 21,408 2,565 Skates BSAI 45,574 37,808 30,519 25,941 4,578 Sharks BSAI 689 450 400 340 60 Octopuses BSAI 6,080 4,560 400 340 60 Total 4,609,077 3,476,800 2,000,000 1,789,177 195,199 15,623 Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2. 1 These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the BS includes the Bogoslof District. 2 Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and AI Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is placed into a non-specified reserve (§ 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4). 3 For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and AI Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for BS Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). AI Greenland turbot, “other flatfish,” Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka flounder, northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, “other rockfish,” skates, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ Program. 4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (50,000 mt), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore—50 percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and mothership—10 percent. Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1) requires the AI pollock TAC to be set at 19,000 mt when the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)( 2 ), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (3,420 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. The Bogoslof pollock TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts. 5 The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 12 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State's guideline harvest level in State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for 35 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the AI. 6 The sablefish OFL and ABC is Alaska-wide and include the Gulf of Alaska. The Alaska-wide sablefish OFL and ABC are included in the total OFL and ABC. The BS and AI sablefish TACs are set to account for the 5 percent of the BS and AI ABC for the State's guideline harvest level in State waters of the BS and AI. 7 “Rock sole” includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole). 8 “Flathead sole” includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder). 9 “Other flatfish” includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 10 “Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish” includes Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted) and Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye). 11 “Other rockfish” includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish. Table 1 a —Comparison of Final 2024 and 2025 With Proposed 2024 and 2025 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI [Amounts are in metric tons] Species Area 1 2024 final TAC 2024 and 2025 proposed TAC 2024 difference from proposed 2024 percentage difference from proposed 2025 final TAC 2025 difference from proposed 2025 percentage difference from proposed Pollock BS 1,300,000 1,302,000 (2,000) (0.2) 1,325,000 23,000 1.8 AI 19,000 19,000 19,000 Bogoslof 250 300 (50) (16.7) 250 (50) (16.7) Pacific cod BS 147,753 123,295 24,458 19.8 132,726 9,431 7.6 AI 8,080 8,425 (345) (4.1) 8,080 (345) (4.1) Sablefish BS 7,996 9,676 (1,680) (17.4) 9,500 (176) (1.8) AI 8,440 9,793 (1,353) (13.8) 8,440 (1,353) (13.8) Yellowfin sole BSAI 195,000 230,656 (35,656) (15.5) 195,000 (35,656) (15.5) Greenland turbot BS 2,687 2,836 (149) (5.3) 2,310 (526) (18.5) AI 501 528 (27) (5.1) 430 (98) (18.6) Arrowtooth flounder BSAI 14,000 15,000 (1,000) (6.7) 14,000 (1,000) (6.7) Kamchatka flounder BSAI 7,498 7,435 63 0.8 7,360 (75) (1.0) Rock sole BSAI 66,000 66,000 66,000 Flathead sole BSAI 35,500 35,500 35,500 Alaska plaice BSAI 21,752 18,000 3,752 20.8 20,000 2,000 11.1 Other flatfish BSAI 4,500 4,500 4,500 Pacific ocean perch BS 11,636 11,700 (64) (0.5) 11,430 (270) (2.3) EAI 7,969 8,013 (44) (0.5) 7,828 (185) (2.3) CAI 5,521 5,551 (30) (0.5) 5,423 (128) (2.3) WAI 12,500 13,000 (500) (3.8) 12,500 (500) (3.8) Northern rockfish BSAI 16,752 11,000 5,752 52.3 15,000 4,000 36.4 Blackspotted and Rougheye rockfish BS/EAI 388 388 412 24 6.2 CAI/WAI 181 182 (1) (0.5) 195 13 7.1 Shortraker rockfish BSAI 530 530 530 Other rockfish BS 880 880 880 AI 380 380 380 Atka mackerel EAI/BS 32,260 30,000 2,260 7.5 30,000 CAI 16,754 15,218 1,536 10.1 14,877 (341) (2.2) WAI 23,973 21,637 2,336 10.8 21,288 (349) (1.6) Skates BSAI 30,519 27,927 2,592 9.3 30,361 2,434 8.7 Sharks BSAI 400 250 150 60.0 400 150 60.0 Octopuses BSAI 400 400 400 Total BSAI 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 Table 2—Final 2025 OFL, ABC, TAC, ITAC, CDQ Reserve Allocation, and Nonspecified Reserves of Groundfish in the BSAI 1 [Amounts are in metric tons] Species Area 2025 OFL ABC TAC ITAC 2 CDQ 3 Nonspecified reserves Pollock 4 BS 3,449,000 2,401,000 1,325,000 1,192,500 132,500 AI 53,030 43,863 19,000 17,100 1,900 Bogoslof 115,146 86,360 250 250 Pacific cod 5 BS 180,798 150,876 132,726 118,524 14,202 AI 18,416 12,431 8,080 7,215 865 Sablefish 6 Alaska-wide 55,317 47,350 n/a n/a n/a BS n/a 11,499 9,500 4,038 356 356 AI n/a 13,156 8,440 1,794 158 158 Yellowfin sole BSAI 317,932 276,917 195,000 174,135 20,865 Greenland turbot BSAI 3,185 2,740 2,740 2,329 n/a BS n/a 2,310 2,310 1,964 247 99 AI n/a 430 430 366 65 Arrowtooth flounder BSAI 104,270 88,548 14,000 11,900 1,498 602 Kamchatka flounder BSAI 8,687 7,360 7,360 6,256 1,104 Rock sole 7 BSAI 264,789 122,535 66,000 58,938 7,062 Flathead sole 8 BSAI 82,699 68,203 35,500 31,702 3,799 Alaska plaice BSAI 45,182 37,560 20,000 17,000 3,000 Other flatfish 9 BSAI 22,919 17,189 4,500 3,825 675 Pacific ocean perch BSAI 48,139 40,366 37,181 32,711 n/a BS n/a 11,430 11,430 9,716 1,715 EAI n/a 7,828 7,828 6,990 838 CAI n/a 5,423 5,423 4,843 580 WAI n/a 15,685 12,500 11,163 1,338 Northern rockfish BSAI 22,838 18,685 15,000 12,750 2,250 Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish 10 BSAI 813 607 607 516 91 BS/EAI n/a 412 412 350 62 CAI/WAI n/a 195 195 166 29 Shortraker rockfish BSAI 706 530 530 451 80 Other rockfish 11 BSAI 1,680 1,260 1,260 1,071 189 BS n/a 880 880 748 132 AI n/a 380 380 323 57 Atka mackerel BSAI 99,723 84,676 66,165 59,085 7,080 EAI/BS n/a 37,049 30,000 26,790 3,210 CAI n/a 14,877 14,877 13,285 1,592 WAI n/a 32,750 21,288 19,010 2,278 Skates BSAI 44,203 36,625 30,361 25,807 4,554 Sharks BSAI 689 450 400 340 60 Octopuses BSAI 6,080 4,560 400 340 60 Total 4,946,241 3,550,691 2,000,000 1,780,576 193,286 15,058 Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2. 1 These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the BS includes the Bogoslof District. 2 Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified reserve (§ 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4). 3 For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). The 2025 fixed gear portion of the sablefish ITAC and CDQ reserve will not be specified until the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications. Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, “other flatfish,” Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka flounder, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, “other rockfish,” skates, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program. 4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (50,000 mt), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore—50 percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1) requires the AI pollock TAC to be set at 19,000 mt when the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)( 2 ), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (3,420 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. The Bogoslof pollock TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts. 5 The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 12 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State's guideline harvest level in State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for 35 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the AI. 6 The sablefish OFL and ABC are Alaska-wide and include the Gulf of Alaska. The Alaska-wide sablefish OFL and ABC are included in the total OFL and ABC. The BS and AI sablefish TACs are set to account for the 5 percent of the BS and AI ABC for the State's guideline harvest level in State waters. 7 “Rock sole” includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole). 8 “Flathead sole” includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder). 9 “Other flatfish” includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 10 “Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish” includes Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted) and Sebastes aleutianu s (rougheye). 11 “Other rockfish” includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish. Groundfish Reserves and the ICA for Pollock, Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and AI Pacific Ocean Perch Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires that NMFS reserve 15 percent of the TAC for each target species (except for pollock, fixed gear allocation of sablefish, and Amendment 80 species) in a non-specified reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS allocate 20 percent of the fixed gear allocation of sablefish to the fixed-gear sablefish CDQ reserve for each subarea. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocations of sablefish in the BS and AI and 10.7 percent of the BS Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to the respective CDQ reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that NMFS allocate 10.7 percent of the TACs for Atka mackerel, AI Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod (the Amendment 80 species) to the respective CDQ reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(A) also requires that 10 percent of the BS pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA). Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(A) requires that 10 percent of the AI pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ DFA. The entire Bogoslof District pollock TAC is allocated as an ICA pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(ii) because the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock by regulation (§ 679.22(a)(7)(B)). With the exception of the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ allocations by gear. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 1 ), NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 50,000 mt of the BS pollock TAC after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 2000-2023. During this 24-year period, the pollock incidental catch ranged from a low of 2.2 percent in 2006 to a high of 4.6 percent in 2014, with a 24-year average of 3 percent. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)( 2 ), NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of 3,420 mt of the AI pollock TAC after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 2003-2023. During this 21-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5 percent in 2006 to a high of 17 percent in 2014, with a 21-year average of 9 percent. After subtracting the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve and pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of 3,000 mt of flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole, 4,000 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt of Western Aleutian district (WAI) Pacific ocean perch, 60 mt of Central Aleutian district (CAI) Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of Eastern Aleutian district (EAI) Pacific ocean perch, 20 mt of WAI Atka mackerel, 75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, and 800 mt of EAI and BS Atka mackerel. These ICA allowances are based on NMFS's examination of the incidental catch in other target fisheries from 2003 through 2023. The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be apportioned to a target species that contributed to the non-specified reserves during the year, provided that such apportionments are consistent with § 679.20(a)(3) and do not result in overfishing (see § 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The Regional Administrator has determined that the ITACs specified for two species group listed in tables 1 and 2 need to be supplemented from the non-specified reserve because U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the full TAC allocations. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(b), NMFS is apportioning the amounts shown in table 3 from the non-specified reserve to increase the ITAC for AI “other rockfish” and blackspotted/rougheye rockfish in the Central Aleutian district and Western Aleutian district (CAI/WAI) by 15 percent of their TACs in 2024 and 2025. Table 3—Final 2024 and 2025 Apportionment of Non-Specified Reserves to ITAC Categories [Amounts are in metric tons] Species-area or subarea 2024 ITAC 2024 reserve amount 2024 final TAC 2025 ITAC 2025 reserve amount 2025 final TAC Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands subarea 323 57 380 323 57 380 Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish—CAI/WAI 154 27 181 166 29 195 Total 477 84 561 489 86 575 Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA) Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the BS pollock TAC be apportioned as a DFA, after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ program and 50,000 mt for the ICA in both 2024 and 2025, as follows: 50 percent to the inshore sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor (CP) sector, and 10 percent to the mothership sector. In the BS, 45 percent of the DFAs are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 55 percent of the DFAs are allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1) (§§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)( 1 ) and 679.23(e)(2)). The AI directed pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of pollock TAC remaining in the AI after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and 3,420 mt for the ICA (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)( 2 )). In the AI, the total A season apportionment of the TAC (including the AI directed fishery allocation, the CDQ DFA, and the ICA) may not exceed 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock, and the remainder of the TAC is allocated to the B season (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)( 3 )). Tables 4 and 5 list these 2024 and 2025 amounts. Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)( 6 ) sets harvest limits for pollock in the A season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541. In accordance with this regulation, NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 4 ) also includes several specific requirements regarding BS pollock allocations. First, it requires that 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the CP sector be available for harvest by AFA CVs with CP sector endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a cooperative contract that allows for the distribution of harvest among AFA CPs and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA CPs not listed in the AFA are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the CP sector. Tables 4 and 5 list the 2024 and 2025 allocations of pollock TAC. Table 6 lists the 2024 inshore sector allocation among AFA inshore cooperatives and AFA open access vessels. The 2025 AFA CV cooperative membership will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by December 1, 2024. Table 22 lists the CDQ allocation of pollock among the CDQ groups. Tables 24, 25, and 26 list the AFA CP and CV harvesting sideboard limits. Tables 4, 5, and 6 also list seasonal apportionments of pollock and harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest of pollock within the SCA, as defined at § 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more than 28 percent of the annual pollock DFA before 12 p.m. A.l.t. (noon), April 1, as provided in § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season pollock SCA harvest limit is apportioned to each sector in proportion to each sector's allocated percentage of the DFA. Table 4—Final 2024 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) 1 [Amounts are in metric tons] Area and sector 2024 Allocations 2024 A season 1 A season DFA SCA harvest limit 2 2024 B season 1 B season DFA Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 1,300,000 n/a n/a n/a CDQ DFA 130,000 58,500 36,400 71,500 ICA 1 50,000 n/a n/a n/a Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA 1,120,000 504,000 313,600 616,000 AFA Inshore 560,000 252,000 156,800 308,000 AFA Catcher/Processors 3 448,000 201,600 125,440 246,400 Catch by CPs 409,920 184,464 n/a 225,456 Catch by CVs 3 38,080 17,136 n/a 20,944 Unlisted CP Limit 4 2,240 1,008 n/a 1,232 AFA Motherships 112,000 50,400 31,360 61,600 Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 196,000 n/a n/a n/a Excessive Processing Limit 6 336,000 n/a n/a n/a Aleutian Islands subarea ABC 42,654 n/a n/a n/a Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 19,000 n/a n/a n/a CDQ DFA 1,900 1,872 n/a 28 ICA 3,420 1,710 n/a 1,710 Aleut Corporation 13,680 13,479 n/a 201 Area harvest limit 7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 541 12,796 n/a n/a n/a 542 6,398 n/a n/a n/a 543 2,133 n/a n/a n/a Bogoslof District ICA 8 250 n/a n/a n/a Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (50,000 mt, ~3.85 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (CP)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the BS subarea, 45 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt, the annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the AI subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (3,420 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI pollock ABC. 2 In the BS subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before 12:00 p.m. A.l.t., April 1. The SCA is defined at § 679.22(a)(7)(vii). 3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 4 ), 8.5 percent of the allocation to listed CPs shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP sector cooperative contract for the year. 4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 4 )( iii ), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the CP sector's allocation of pollock. 5 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 6 ), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs. 6 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 7 ), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs. 7 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)( 6 ), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the AI pollock ABC. 8 Pursuant to § 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector. Table 5—Final 2025 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) 1 [Amounts are in metric tons] Area and sector 2025 Allocations 2025 A season 1 A season DFA SCA harvest limit 2 2025 B season 1 B season DFA Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 1,325,000 n/a n/a n/a CDQ DFA 132,500 59,625 37,100 72,875 ICA 1 50,000 n/a n/a n/a Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA 1,142,500 514,125 319,900 628,375 AFA Inshore 571,250 257,063 159,950 314,188 AFA Catcher/Processors 3 457,000 205,650 127,960 251,350 Catch by CPs 418,155 188,170 n/a 229,985 Catch by CVs 3 38,845 17,480 n/a 21,365 Unlisted CP Limit 4 2,285 1,028 n/a 1,257 AFA Motherships 114,250 51,413 31,990 62,838 Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 199,938 n/a n/a n/a Excessive Processing Limit 6 342,750 n/a n/a n/a Aleutian Islands subarea ABC 43,863 n/a n/a n/a Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 19,000 n/a n/a n/a CDQ DFA 1,900 1,900 n/a ICA 3,420 1,710 n/a 1,710 Aleut Corporation 13,680 13,680 n/a Area harvest limit 7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 541 13,159 n/a n/a n/a 542 6,579 n/a n/a n/a 543 2,193 n/a n/a n/a Bogoslof District ICA 8 250 n/a n/a n/a Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (50,000 mt, ~3.85 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (CP)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the BS subarea, 45 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt, the annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the AI subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (3,420 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI pollock ABC. 2 In the BS subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before 12:00 p.m. A.l.t., April 1. The SCA is defined at § 679.22(a)(7)(vii). 3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 4 ), 8.5 percent of the allocation to listed CPs shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP sector cooperative contract for the year. 4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 4 )( iii ), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the CP sector's allocation of pollock. 5 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 6 ), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs. 6 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)( 7 ), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs. 7 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)( 6 ), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the AI pollock ABC. 8 Pursuant to § 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector. Table 6—Final 2024 AFA Inshore Cooperative and Open Access Pollock Allocations, and Inshore Sector Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area Limits Cooperative name 1 Percent of inshore sector allocation Sum of vessel's catch histories (mt) 2 2024 Allocations (mt) AFA Open Access 2.103 18,414 11,777 Akutan Catcher Vessel Association 33.788 295,836 189,212 Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative 9.346 81,828 52,336 Unalaska Fleet Cooperative (Alyeska) 12.261 107,357 68,663 UniSea Fleet Cooperative 23.122 202,454 129,486 Westward Fleet Cooperative 19.380 169,683 108,526 Sum of all Cooperatives 100.000 875,572 560,000 Inshore Sector Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA) Limits 2024 A season TAC 2024 A season SCA harvest limit 3 2024 B season TAC Inshore cooperative sector: Vessels >99 ft n/a 134,934 n/a Vessels ≤99 ft n/a 21,866 n/a Total 252,000 156,800 308,000 Open access sector Total inshore sector 252,000 156,800 308,000 Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding. 1 The 2025 AFA catcher vessel cooperative membership will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by December 1, 2024. 2 According to regulations at § 679.62(a)(1), the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to the vessel's best 2 of 3 years inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes landings to catcher/processors and motherships for vessels that made 500 or more mt of landings to catcher/processors and motherships from 1995 through 1997. 3 The Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) is established at § 679.22(a)(7)(vii). The SCA limitations for vessels less than or equal to 99 ft LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will be established on an inseason basis in accordance with § 679.22(a)(7)(vii)(C)(2), and the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for pollock by vessels greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA, catching pollock for processing by the inshore component before reaching the inshore SCA harvest limit before April 1 to accommodate fishing by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) inside the SCA until April 1. Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and non-trawl gear sector, and the jig gear allocation (tables 7 and 8). The percentage of the ITAC for Atka mackerel allocated to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is listed in table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and in § 679.91. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the EAI and the BS Atka mackerel TAC may be allocated to vessels using jig gear. The percent of this allocation is recommended annually by the Council based on several criteria, including, among other criteria, the anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. After reviewing Council recommendations, NMFS approves a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka mackerel TAC in the EAI and BS to the jig gear sector in 2024 and 2025. Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel TAC, after subtraction of the jig gear allocation, into two equal seasonal allowances. Section 679.23(e)(3) sets the first seasonal allowance for directed fishing with trawl gear from January 20 through June 10 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance from June 10 through December 31 (B season). Section 679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies Atka mackerel seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel trawl fishing. Within any fishing year, any under harvest or over harvest of a seasonal allowance may be added to or subtracted from a subsequent seasonal allowance (§ 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(B)). The ICAs and jig gear allocations are not apportioned by season. Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)( 1 )( i ) and ( ii ) limits Atka mackerel catch within waters 0 nautical miles (nmi) to 20 nmi of Steller sea lion sites listed in table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located west of 178° W longitude to no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543. The annual harvest is also equally divided between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3). Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)( 2 ) requires that the annual TAC in Area 543 will be no more than 65 percent of the ABC in Area 543. Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(D) requires that any unharvested Atka mackerel A season allowance that is added to the B season be prohibited from being harvested within waters 0 nmi to 20 nmi of Steller sea lion sites listed in table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located in Areas 541, 542, and 543. Tables 7 and 8 list these 2024 and 2025 Atka mackerel seasonal and area allowances, and the sector allocations. One Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2024 fishing year. Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative, no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for 2024. The 2025 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024. Table 22 lists the allocation of CDQ Atka mackerel among the CDQ groups. Table 7—Final 2024 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC [Amounts are in metric tons] Sector 1 Season 2 3 4 2024 Allocation by area Eastern Aleutian District/ Bering Sea Central Aleutian District 5 Western Aleutian District TAC n/a 32,260 16,754 23,973 CDQ reserve Total 3,452 1,793 2,565 A 1,726 896 1,283 Critical Habitat n/a 538 770 B 1,726 896 1,283 Critical Habitat n/a 538 770 Non-CDQ TAC n/a 28,808 14,961 21,408 ICA Total 800 75 20 Jig 6 Total 140 BSAI trawl limited access Total 2,787 1,489 A 1,393 744 Critical Habitat n/a 447 B 1,393 744 Critical Habitat n/a 447 Amendment 80 sector Total 25,081 13,398 21,388 A 12,541 6,699 10,694 Critical Habitat n/a 4,019 6,416 B 12,541 6,699 10,694 Critical Habitat n/a 4,019 6,416 Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). 2 Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 3 The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel for the CDQ reserve, BSAI trawl limited access sector, and Amendment 80 sector are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. 4 Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31. 5 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)( 1 )( i ) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of Steller sea lion protection areas; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)( 1 )( ii ) equally divides the annual harvest limits between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); and section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)( 2 ) requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543. 6 Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of this allocation for 2024 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. Table 8—Final 2025 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC [Amounts are in metric tons] Sector 1 Season 2 3 4 2025 Allocation by area Eastern Aleutian District/ Bering Sea 5 Central Aleutian District 5 Western Aleutian District 5 TAC n/a 30,000 14,877 21,288 CDQ reserve Total 3,210 1,592 2,278 A 1,605 796 1,139 Critical Habitat n/a 478 683 B 1,605 796 1,139 Critical Habitat n/a 478 683 non-CDQ TAC n/a 26,790 13,285 19,010 ICA Total 800 75 20 Jig 6 Total 130 BSAI trawl limited access Total 2,586 1,321 A 1,293 661 Critical Habitat n/a 396 B 1,293 661 Critical Habitat n/a 396 Amendment 80 sectors 7 Total 23,274 11,889 18,990 A 11,637 5,945 9,495 Critical Habitat n/a 3,567 5,697 B 11,637 5,945 9,495 Critical Habitat n/a 3,567 5,697 Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). 2 Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 3 The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel for the CDQ reserve, BSAI trawl limited access sector, and Amendment 80 sector are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. 4 Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31. 5 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)( 1 )( i ) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of Steller sea lion protection areas; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)( 1 )( ii ) equally divides the annual harvest limits between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); and section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)( 2 ) requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543. 6 Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of this allocation for 2025 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. 7 The 2025 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024. Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC The Council separated the BSAI OFL, ABC, and TAC into BS and AI subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for Pacific cod in 2014 (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014). Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) allocates 10.7 percent of the BS TAC and the AI TAC to the CDQ program. After CDQ allocations have been deducted from the respective BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, the remaining BSAI Pacific cod TACs are combined for calculating further BSAI Pacific cod sector allocations and seasonal allowances. If the non-CDQ Pacific cod TAC is or will be reached in either the BS or the AI subareas, NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea as provided in § 679.20(d)(1)(iii). Section 679.20(a)(7)(ii) allocates to the non-CDQ sectors the Pacific cod TAC in the combined BSAI, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ program, as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear; 2.0 percent to hook-and-line or pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-and-line CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-and-line CPs; 8.4 percent to pot CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 percent to pot CPs; 2.3 percent to AFA trawl CPs; 13.4 percent to Amendment 80 sector; and 22.1 percent to trawl CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2024 and 2025, the Regional Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries. During the fishing year, NMFS may reallocate unharvested Pacific cod among sectors, consistent with the reallocation hierarchy set forth at § 679.20(a)(7)(iii). The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is established in table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and § 679.91. One Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2024 fishing year. Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative, no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for 2024. The 2025 allocations for Pacific cod between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024. The BSAI ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the PCTC Program is established in § 679.131(b). Section 679.131(b)(1)(i) also requires NMFS to establish an ICA for incidental catch of Pacific cod by trawl CVs engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program Pacific cod. In the annual harvest specification process, NMFS determines the Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel TAC and the annual apportionment of Pacific cod in the A and B seasons between the PCTC Program DFA and the ICA (§ 679.131(b)(2)) (table 9 below). The 2025 allocations for PCTC Program cooperatives will not be known until NMFS receives the membership applications by November 1, 2024. The 2024 PCTC cooperative allocations and PSC allowances are listed in table 11. The sector allocations of Pacific cod are apportioned into seasonal allowances to disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year (see §§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) (CDQ), 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) (non-CDQ), and 679.23(e)(5) (seasons)). Tables 9 and 10 list the non-CDQ sector and seasonal allowances. In accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion of a non-CDQ Pacific cod seasonal allowance for any sector, except the jig sector, will become available at the beginning of that sector's next seasonal allowance. Section 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) sets forth the CDQ Pacific cod gear allowances by season, and CDQ groups are prohibited from exceeding those seasonal allowances (§ 679.7(d)(6)). Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires that the Regional Administrator establish an Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based on Pacific cod abundance in Area 543 as determined by the annual stock assessment process. Based on the 2023 stock assessment, the Regional Administrator determined for 2024 and 2025 the estimated amount of Pacific cod abundance in Area 543 is 15.7 percent of the total AI abundance. To calculate the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit, NMFS first subtracts the State GHL Pacific cod amount from the AI Pacific cod ABC. Then NMFS determines the harvest limit in Area 543 by multiplying the percentage of Pacific cod estimated in Area 543 (15.7 percent) by the remaining ABC for AI Pacific cod. Based on these calculations, the Area 543 harvest limit is 1,269 mt for 2024 and 2025. Under the PCTC Program, PCTC Program cooperatives are required to collectively set aside up to twelve percent of the trawl CV A-season allocation for delivery to an AI shoreplant in years in which an AI community representative notifies NMFS of the intent to process PCTC Program Pacific cod in the City of Adak or City of Atka (§ 679.132). A notice of intent to process PCTC Program Pacific cod must be submitted in writing to the Regional Administrator by a representative of the City of Adak or the City of Atka no later than October 15. A notice of intent was not received in 2023, and accordingly the AI set-aside will not be in effect for 2024. The 2025 set-aside will be determined after the October 15, 2024 deadline in conjunction with the 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications process. Based on the final 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs, table 9 and table 10 list the CDQ and non-CDQ TAC amounts; non-CDQ seasonal allowances by gear; the sector allocations of Pacific cod; and the seasons set forth at § 679.23(e)(5). The CDQ allocation by CDQ groups is listed in table 22. Table 9—Final 2024 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC [Amounts are in metric tons] Sector Percent 2024 Share of gear sector total 2024 Share of sector total 2024 Seasonal allowances Season Amount Total Bering Sea TAC n/a 147,753 n/a n/a n/a Bering Sea CDQ n/a 15,810 n/a See § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC n/a 131,943 n/a n/a n/a Total Aleutian Islands TAC n/a 8,080 n/a n/a n/a Aleutian Islands CDQ n/a 865 n/a See § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC n/a 7,215 n/a n/a n/a Western Aleutians Islands Limit n/a 1,269 n/a n/a n/a Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 100.0 139,159 n/a n/a n/a Total hook-and-line/pot gear 60.8 84,609 n/a n/a n/a Hook-and-line/pot ICA 2 n/a n/a 500 n/a n/a Hook-and-line/pot sub-total n/a 84,109 n/a n/a n/a Hook-and-line catcher/processors 48.7 n/a 67,370 n/a n/a A-season Jan 1-Jun 10 34,359 B-season Jun 10-Dec 31 33,011 Hook-and-line catcher vessels ≥60 ft LOA 0.2 n/a 277 n/a n/a A-season Jan 1-Jun 10 141 B-season Jun 10-Dec 31 136 Pot catcher/processors 1.5 n/a 2,075 n/a n/a Pot catcher/processors A-season Jan 1-Jun 10 1,058 Pot catcher/processors B-season Sept 1-Dec 31 1,017 Pot catcher vessels ≥60 ft LOA 8.4 n/a 11,620 n/a n/a A-season Jan 1-Jun 10 5,926 B-season Sept 1-Dec 31 5,694 Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear 2.0 n/a 2,767 n/a n/a Trawl catcher vessels 3 22.1 30,754 n/a n/a n/a A-season ICA Jan 20-Apr 1 1,500 A-season PCTC Jan 20-Apr 1 21,258 B-season ICA Apr 1-Jun 10 700 B-season PCTC Apr 1-Jun 10 2,683 C-season trawl catcher vessels Jun 10-Nov 1 4,613 AFA trawl catcher/processors 2.3 3,201 n/a n/a n/a A-season Jan 20-Apr 1 2,400 B-season Apr 1-Jun 10 800 C-season Jun 10-Nov 1 Amendment 80 13.4 18,647 n/a n/a n/a A-season Jan 20-Apr 1 13,985 B-season Apr 1-Jun 10 4,662 C-season Jun 10-Dec 31 Jig 1.4 1,948 n/a n/a n/a A-season Jan 1-Apr 30 1,169 B-season Apr 30-Aug 31 390 C-season Aug 31-Dec 31 390 Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after subtraction of the reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the BS or AI is or will be reached, then directed fishing will be prohibited for non-CDQ Pacific cod in that subarea, even if a BSAI allowance remains (§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). 2 The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors is deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries. 3 The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation is allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program after subtraction of the A and B season ICAs (§ 679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator approves for the A and B seasons, ICAs of 1,500 mt and 700 mt, respectively, to account for projected incidental catch of Pacific cod by trawl catcher vessels engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program Pacific cod. Table 10—Final 2025 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC [Amounts are in metric tons] Sector Percent 2025 Share of gear sector total 2025 Share of sector total 2025 Seasonal allowances Season Amount Total Bering Sea TAC n/a 132,726 n/a n/a n/a Bering Sea CDQ n/a 14,202 n/a See § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC n/a 118,524 n/a n/a n/a Total Aleutian Islands TAC n/a 8,080 n/a n/a n/a Aleutian Islands CDQ n/a 865 n/a See § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC n/a 7,215 n/a n/a n/a Western Aleutians Islands Limit n/a 1,269 n/a n/a n/a Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 100.0 125,740 n/a n/a n/a Total hook-and-line/pot gear 60.8 76,450 n/a n/a n/a Hook-and-line/pot ICA 2 n/a n/a 500 n/a n/a Hook-and-line/pot sub-total n/a 75,950 n/a n/a n/a Hook-and-line catcher/processors 48.7 n/a 60,835 n/a n/a A-season Jan 1-Jun 10 31,026 B-season Jun 10-Dec 31 29,809 Hook-and-line catcher vessels ≥60 ft LOA 0.2 n/a 250 n/a n/a A-season Jan 1-Jun 10 127 B-season Jun 10-Dec 31 122 Pot catcher/processors 1.5 n/a 1,874 n/a n/a Pot catcher/processors A-season Jan 1-Jun 10 956 Pot catcher/processors B-season Sept 1-Dec 31 918 Pot catcher vessels ≥60 ft LOA 8.4 n/a 10,493 n/a n/a A-season Jan 1-Jun 10 5,351 B-season Sept 1-Dec 31 5,142 Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear 2.0 n/a 2,498 n/a n/a Trawl catcher vessels 3 22.1 27,788 n/a n/a n/a A-season ICA Jan 20-Apr 1 1,500 A-season PCTC Jan 20-Apr 1 19,063 B-season ICA Apr 1-Jun 10 700 B-season PCTC Apr 1-Jun 10 2,357 C-season trawl catcher vessels Jun 10-Nov 1 4,168 AFA trawl catcher/processors 2.3 2,892 n/a n/a n/a A-season Jan 20-Apr 1 2,169 B-season Apr 1-Jun 10 723 C-season Jun 10-Nov 1 Amendment 80 13.4 16,849 n/a n/a n/a A-season Jan 20-Apr 1 12,637 B-season Apr 1-Jun 10 4,212 C-season Jun 10-Dec 31 Jig 1.4 1,760 n/a n/a n/a A-season Jan 1-Apr 30 1,056 B-season Apr 30-Aug 31 352 C-season Aug 31-Dec 31 352 1 The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after subtraction of the reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the BS or AI is or will be reached, then directed fishing will be prohibited for non-CDQ Pacific cod in that subarea, even if a BSAI allowance remains (§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). 2 The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors is deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries. 3 The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation is allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program after subtraction of the A and B season ICAs (§ 679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator approves for the A and B seasons, ICAs of 1,500 mt and 700 mt, respectively, to account for projected incidental catch of Pacific cod by trawl catcher vessels engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program Pacific cod. Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. Table 11—Final 2024 PCTC Cooperative Allocations and PSC Allowances [Pacific cod and Pacific halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab are in number of animals.] Cooperative name 1 Total Pacific cod CQ A Season Pacific cod CQ B Season Pacific cod CQ Halibut Red king crab C. opilio COBLZ Zone 1 c. bairdi Zone 2 c. bairdi GA Catcher Vessels Association 894 794 100 9.599 61 1,050 1,253 1,044 Akutan Cod Association 14,256 12,658 1,598 8.703 55 952 1,136 947 Usixty PCTC Association 811 720 91 9.475 60 1,037 1,237 1,031 Katie Ann Cod Cooperative 883 784 99 50.54 325 5,531 6,601 5,501 USS Cod Cooperative 2,389 2,122 268 153.03 984 16,750 19,987 16,656 Unified Cod Cooperative 4,708 4,180 528 25.649 164 2,807 3,350 2,791 Totals 23,942 21,258 2,684 257 1,653 28,130 33,567 27,973 Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding. 1 The 2025 allocations for PCTC Cooperatives will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024. Sablefish Gear Allocation Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require allocation of the sablefish TAC for the BS and AI subareas between the trawl gear and fixed gear sectors. Gear allocations of the sablefish TAC for the BS are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for fixed gear. Gear allocations of the TAC for the AI are 25 percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for fixed gear. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS apportion 20 percent of the fixed gear allocation of sablefish TAC to the CDQ reserve for each subarea. Also, § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)( 1 ) requires that in the BS and AI 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish TAC from the non-specified reserve, established under § 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the CDQ reserve. The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be established biennially. The harvest specifications for the fixed gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries are limited to the 2024 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries reduce the potential for discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ fisheries remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year until the final harvest specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries are in effect. Table 12 lists the 2024 and 2025 gear allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts. Allocations among CDQ groups are listed in table 22. Table 12—Final 2024 and 2025 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACs [Amounts are in metric tons] Subarea and gear Percent of TAC 2024 Share of TAC 2024 ITAC 2024 CDQ reserve 2025 Share of TAC 2025 ITAC 2025 CDQ reserve Bering Sea: Trawl gear 1 50 3,998 3,398 300 4,750 4,038 356 Fixed gear 2 50 3,998 3,198 800 n/a n/a n/a Total 100 7,996 6,597 1,099 4,750 4,038 356 Aleutian Islands: Trawl gear 1 25 2,110 1,794 158 2,110 1,794 158 Fixed gear 2 75 6,330 5,064 1,266 n/a n/a n/a Total 100 8,440 6,858 1,424 2,110 1,794 158 Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 For the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using trawl gear, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the non-specified reserve (§ 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC for vessels using trawl gear is the remainder of the TAC after subtracting this reserve. In the BS and AI, 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocation of the TAC is assigned from the non-specified reserve to the CDQ reserve (§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1)). 2 For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using fixed gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC for the BS and AI is reserved for use by CDQ participants (§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B)). The ITAC for vessels using fixed gear is the remainder of the TAC after subtracting the CDQ reserve for each subarea. The Council recommended, and NMFS concurs, that specifications for the fixed gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year. Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate AI Pacific ocean perch and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole ITACs between the Amendment 80 sector and the BSAI trawl limited access sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserves and ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and vessels using non-trawl gear. The allocations of the ITACs for AI Pacific ocean perch and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector are established in accordance with tables 33 and 34 to 50 CFR part 679 and with § 679.91. One Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2024 fishing year. Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative, no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for 2024. The 2025 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024. Tables 13 and 14 list the 2024 and 2025 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean perch and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs. Allocations among the CDQ groups are listed in table 22. Table 13—Final 2024 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAs), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs [Amounts are in metric tons] Sector Pacific ocean perch Eastern Aleutian district Central Aleutian district Western Aleutian district Flathead sole BSAI Rock sole BSAI Yellowfin sole BSAI TAC 7,969 5,521 12,500 35,500 66,000 195,000 CDQ 853 591 1,338 3,799 7,062 20,865 ICA 100 60 10 3,000 6,000 4,000 BSAI trawl limited access 702 487 223 32,996 Amendment 80 6,315 4,383 10,929 28,702 52,938 137,139 Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. Table 14—Final 2025 Community Development Quota (CDC) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAs), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs [Amounts are in metric tons] Sector Pacific ocean perch Eastern Aleutian district Central Aleutian district Western Aleutian district Flathead sole BSAI Rock sole BSAI Yellowfin sole BSAI TAC 7,828 5,423 12,500 35,500 66,000 195,000 CDQ 838 580 1,338 3,799 7,062 20,865 ICA 100 60 10 3,000 6,000 4,000 BSAI trawl limited access 689 478 223 32,996 Amendment 80 1 6,201 4,304 10,929 28,702 52,938 137,139 Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 The 2025 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024. Section 679.2 defines the ABC surplus for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole as the difference between the annual ABC and TAC for each species. Section 679.20(b)(1)(iii) establishes ABC reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The ABC surpluses and the ABC reserves are necessary to mitigate the operational variability, environmental conditions, and economic factors that may constrain the CDQ groups and the Amendment 80 cooperatives from fully harvesting their allocations and to improve the likelihood of achieving and maintaining, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield in the BSAI groundfish fisheries. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, may set the ABC reserve at or below the ABC surplus for each species, thus maintaining the TAC at or below ABC limits. An amount equal to 10.7 percent of the ABC reserves will be allocated as CDQ ABC reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. Section 679.31(b)(4) establishes the annual allocations of CDQ ABC reserves among the CDQ groups. The Amendment 80 ABC reserves are the ABC reserves minus the CDQ ABC reserves. Section 679.91(i)(2) establishes Amendment 80 cooperatives ABC reserve to be the ratio of each cooperatives' quota share units and the total Amendment 80 quota share units, multiplied by the Amendment 80 ABC reserve for each respective species. Table 15 lists the 2024 and 2025 ABC surplus and ABC reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The ABC reserves for the CDQ groups are listed in table 22. Table 15—Final 2024 and 2025 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole [Amounts are in metric tons] Sector 2024 Flathead sole 2024 Rock sole 2024 Yellowfin sole 2025 1 Flathead sole 2025 1 Rock sole 2025 1 Yellowfin sole ABC 67,289 122,091 265,913 68,203 122,535 276,917 TAC 35,500 66,000 195,000 35,500 66,000 195,000 ABC surplus 31,789 56,091 70,913 32,703 56,535 81,917 ABC reserve 31,789 56,091 70,913 32,703 56,535 81,917 CDQ ABC reserve 3,401 6,002 7,588 3,499 6,049 8,765 Amendment 80 ABC reserve 28,388 50,089 63,325 29,204 50,486 73,152 1 The 2025 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024. PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring Section 679.21 (b), (e), (f), and (g), set forth the BSAI PSC limits. Section 679.21(b)(1) establishes three fixed halibut PSC limits totaling 1,770 mt, and assigns 315 mt of the halibut PSC limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ Program, 745 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, and 710 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the BSAI non-trawl sector. An additional amount of BSAI halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 sector is determined annually based on the most recent halibut abundance estimates from the IPHC setline survey index and the NMFS AFSC Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index. In accordance with § 679.21(b)(1)(i), NMFS uses both halibut biomass estimates such that the value at the intercept of those survey indices from table 58 to 50 CFR part 679 is the Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit. The 2023 AFSC Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index estimate of halibut abundance is 170,238 mt and is above the threshold level of 150,000 mt. The IPHC setline survey index is 6,462 mt and is in the “low” abundance state. Pursuant to table 58 to 50 CFR part 679, the 2024 Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit is 1,396 mt. NMFS will publish the 2025 Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit in the 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications. Section 679.21(b)(1)(iii)(A) and (B) require apportionment of the BSAI non-trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC allowances among six fishery categories in table 20, and § 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B), (e)(3)(i)(B), and (e)(3)(iv) require apportionment of the trawl PSC limits in tables 17, 18, and 19 into PSC allowances among seven fishery categories. These apportionments into PSC allowances are based on the fishery categories' share of anticipated halibut PSC during the fishing year and the need to optimize the amount of total groundfish harvested under the halibut PSC limit for the non-trawl and trawl sectors. Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP, the Council recommends that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt from the halibut PSC limit. NMFS concurs with this recommendation and exempts the pot gear fishery, the jig gear fishery, and the sablefish IFQ fixed gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for the following reasons: (1) the pot gear fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to be negligible because of the small size of the fishery and the selectivity of the gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality because the IFQ program requires that legal-size halibut be retained by vessels using fixed gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ for that vessel category and the IFQ regulatory area in which the vessel is operating (see § 679.7(f)(11)). The 2023 total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was 43,527 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of 9 mt. The 2023 jig gear fishery harvested 22 mt total groundfish. Most vessels in the jig gear fleet are exempt from observer coverage requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery. As mentioned above, NMFS estimates a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality because of the selective nature of jig gear and the low mortality rate of halibut caught with jig gear and released. Under § 679.21(f)(2), NMFS annually allocates portions of either 33,318, 45,000, 47,591, or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limits among the AFA sectors, depending on: (1) past bycatch performance; (2) whether Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan agreements (IPAs) are formed and approved by NMFS; and (3) whether NMFS determines it is a low Chinook salmon abundance year. NMFS will determine that it is a low Chinook salmon abundance year when abundance of Chinook salmon in western Alaska is less than or equal to 250,000 Chinook salmon. The State provides to NMFS an estimate of Chinook salmon abundance using the 3-System Index for western Alaska based on the Kuskokwim, Unalakleet, and Upper Yukon aggregate stock grouping. If an AFA sector participates in an approved IPA and has not exceeded its performance standard under § 679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a low Chinook salmon abundance year, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no IPA is approved, or if the sector has exceeded its performance standard under § 679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a low abundance year, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(C). If an AFA sector participates in an approved IPA and has not exceeded its performance standard under § 679.21(f)(6), in a low abundance year, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 45,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). If no IPA is approved, or if the sector has exceeded its performance standard under § 679.21(f)(6), and if in a low abundance year, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 33,318 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D). NMFS has determined that 2023 was a low Chinook salmon abundance year, based on the State's estimate that Chinook salmon abundance in western Alaska is less than 250,000 Chinook salmon. In addition, all AFA sectors are participating in NMFS-approved IPAs, and no sector has exceeded the sector's annual Chinook salmon bycatch performance standard in any three of seven consecutive years. Therefore, in 2024, the Chinook salmon PSC limit is 45,000 Chinook salmon, allocated to each sector as specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2024, the Chinook salmon bycatch performance standard under § 679.21(f)(6) is 33,318 Chinook salmon, allocated to each sector as specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D). The AFA sector Chinook salmon PSC limits are also seasonally apportioned with 70 percent for the A season pollock fishery, and 30 percent for the B season pollock fishery (see §§ 679.21(f)(3)(i) and 679.23(e)(2)). NMFS publishes the approved IPAs, allocations, and reports at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm. Section 679.21(g)(2)(i) specifies 700 fish as the 2024 and 2025 Chinook salmon PSC limit for the AI pollock fishery. Section 679.21(g)(2)(ii) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, as the AI PSQ reserve for the CDQ program, and allocates the remaining 647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Section 679.21(f)(14)(i) specifies 42,000 fish as the 2024 and 2025 non-Chinook salmon PSC limit for vessels using trawl gear from August 15 through October 14 in the Catcher Vessel Operational Area (CVOA). Section 679.21(f)(14)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494 non-Chinook salmon, in the CVOA as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ program, and allocates the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon in the CVOA to the non-CDQ fisheries. Section 679.21(f)(14)(iv) exempts from closures in the Chum Salmon Savings Area trawl vessels participating in directed fishing for pollock and operating under an IPA approved by NMFS. PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on abundance and spawning biomass. Based on the most recent (2023) survey data, the red king crab mature female abundance is estimated at 11.054 million red king crabs, and the effective spawning biomass is estimated at 20.055 million lbs (9,320 mt). Based on the criteria set out at § 679.21(e)(1)(i), the calculated 2024 and 2025 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 97,000 animals. This limit derives from the mature female abundance estimate above 8.4 million mature red king crab and an effective spawning biomass between 14.5 and 55 million lbs. Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)( 2 ) establishes criteria under which NMFS must specify, after consultation with the Council, an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS) if the State has established a GHL fishery for red king crab in the Bristol Bay area in the previous year. The regulations limit the RKCSS red king crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit, based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. In October 2023, the Council recommended, and NMFS approves, that the RKCSS red king crab bycatch limit for 2024 and 2025 be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit. Based on the most recent (2023) survey data from the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey, Tanner crab ( Chionoecetes bairdi ) abundance is estimated at 730 million animals. Pursuant to criteria set out at § 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2024 and 2025 C. bairdi crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1, and 2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. The limit in Zone 1 is based on the total abundance of C. bairdi (estimated at 730 million animals), which is greater than 400 million animals. The limit in Zone 2 is based on the total abundance of C. bairdi (estimated at 730 million animals), which is greater than 400 million animals. Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for trawl gear for snow crab ( C. opilio ) is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit in the C. opilio bycatch limitation zone (COBLZ) is set at 0.1133 percent of the Bering Sea abundance index minus 150,000 crabs, unless a minimum or maximum PSC limit applies. Based on the most recent (2023) survey estimate of 1.142 billion animals, the calculated C. opilio crab PSC limit is 1,143,886 animals. Because 0.1133 percent multiplied by the total abundance is less than 4.5 million animals, the minimum PSC limit applies, and the PSC limit is 4.350 million animals. Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1 percent of the annual eastern BS herring biomass. The best estimate of 2024 and 2025 herring biomass is 253,511 mt. This amount was developed by ADF&G based on biomass for spawning aggregations. Therefore, the herring PSC limit for 2024 and 2025 is 2,535 mt for all trawl gear as listed in tables 16 and 17. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)( 1 ) allocates 10.7 percent from each trawl gear PSC limit specified for crab as a PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires that crab PSQ reserves be subtracted from the total trawl gear crab PSC limits. The crab and halibut PSC limits apportioned to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors are listed in table 35 to 50 CFR part 679. The resulting 2024 and 2025 allocations of PSC limit to CDQ PSQ reserves, the Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access sector are listed in table 16. Pursuant to §§ 679.21(b)(1)(i), 679.21(e)(3)(vi), and 679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC limits assigned to the Amendment 80 sector are then further allocated to Amendment 80 cooperatives as cooperative quota. Crab and halibut PSC cooperative quota assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not allocated to specific fishery categories. In 2024, there are no vessels in the Amendment 80 limited access sector and there is a single Amendment 80 cooperative. The 2025 PSC allocations between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024. The BSAI ITAC allocation of halibut and crab PSC limits to the PCTC Program is established in § 679.131(c) and (d). The halibut PSC apportioned to the trawl CV sector is 98 percent of the halibut PSC limit apportioned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector's Pacific cod fishery category, and the remaining 2 percent is apportioned to the AFA CP sector. The trawl CV sector apportionment is further allocated to the A and B seasons (95 percent) and the C season (5 percent). The allocation to the trawl CV sector for the A and B season is subject to reductions consistent with § 679.131(c)(1)(iii). The crab PSC apportioned to the trawl CV sector is 90.6 percent of the crab PSC limit apportioned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector's Pacific cod fishery category, and the remaining 9.4 percent is apportioned to the AFA CP sector. The trawl CV sector apportionment is further allocated to the A and B seasons (95 percent) and the C season (5 percent), and the A and B season limit is reduced by 35 percent to determine the overall PCTC Program crab PSC limit. The limits of halibut and crab PSC for the PCTC Program are listed in tables 18 and 19, and in table 11 for PSC allowances for PCTC Program cooperatives. Sections 679.21(b)(2) and (e)(5) authorize NMFS, after consulting with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of halibut and crab PSC amounts for the BSAI trawl limited access and non-trawl sectors to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered are: (1) seasonal distribution of prohibited species; (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish species relative to prohibited species distribution; (3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relevant to prohibited species biomass and expected catches of target groundfish species; (4) the expected variations in bycatch rates throughout the year; (5) the expected changes in directed groundfish fishing seasons; (6) the expected start of fishing effort; and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal prohibited species apportionments on segments of the target groundfish industry. Based on this criteria, the Council recommended and NMFS approves the seasonal PSC apportionments in tables 18, 19, and 20 to maximize harvest among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC. PSC limits for PCTC Program cooperatives are listed in table 11. PSC allocations among the CDQ groups are listed in table 22. Table 16—Final 2024 and 2025 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors PSC species and area and zone 1 Total PSC Non-trawl PSC CDQ PSQ reserve 2 Trawl PSC remaining after CDQ PSQ Amendment 80 sector 3 4 BSAI trawl limited access sector BSAI PSC limits not allocated to Amendment 80 3 Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI 3,166 710 315 n/a 1,396 745 n/a Herring (mt) BSAI 2,535 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 97,000 n/a 10,379 86,621 43,293 26,489 16,839 C. opilio (animals) COBLZ 4,350,000 n/a 465,450 3,884,550 1,909,256 1,248,494 726,799 C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 980,000 n/a 104,860 875,140 368,521 411,228 95,390 C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2 2,970,000 n/a 317,790 2,652,210 627,778 1,241,500 782,932 1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas and zones. 2 The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of each crab PSC limit. 3 The BSAI halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 sector is determined annually based on the most recent halibut abundance estimates from the IPHC setline survey index and the NMFS AFSC Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index (§ 679.21(b)(1)(i)). The Amendment 80 Program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits for crab below the total PSC limit. These reductions are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors (table 35 to part 679). 4 The Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program reduced the Pacific cod PCTC Program PSC limit for halibut by 12.5 percent in 2024 and 25 percent in 2025 and each year after (§ 679.131(c)(1)(iii)(A and B)). The PCTC Program reduced the Pacific cod PCTC Program PSC limit for crab by 35 percent each year (679.131(d)(1)(iii)). The PSC limits apply to PCTC Program trawl CVs in the A and B seasons. Table 17—Final 2024 and 2025 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for All Trawl Sectors Fishery categories Herring (mt) BSAI Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 Yellowfin sole 146 n/a Rock sole/flathead sole/Alaska plaice/other flatfish 1 74 n/a Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/Kamchatka flounder/sablefish 8 n/a Rockfish 8 n/a Pacific cod 13 n/a Midwater trawl pollock 2,256 n/a Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 2 3 30 n/a Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic trawl gear 4 n/a 24,250 Total trawl PSC 2,535 97,000 Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 “Other flatfish” for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 2 Pollock other than midwater trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and “other species” fishery category. 3 “Other species” for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses. 4 In December 2024, the Council recommended, and NMFS approves, that the red king crab bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)). Table 18—Final 2024 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors and Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program BSAI trawl limited access sector fisheries Prohibited species and area 1 Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 C. opilio (animals) COBLZ C. bairdi (animals) Zone 1 Zone 2 Yellowfin sole 250 23,337 1,192,179 346,228 1,185,500 Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 2 Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/Kamchatka flounder/sablefish Rockfish, April 15-December 31 5 1,006 1,000 Total Pacific cod 3 315 2,955 50,281 60,000 50,000 AFA CP Pacific cod 6 278 4,726 5,640 4,700 PCTC Program Pacific cod, A and B season 257 1,653 28,130 33,567 27,973 Trawl CV Pacific cod, C season 15 134 2,278 2,718 2,265 PCTC Program unallocated reduction 37 890 15,147 18,075 15,062 Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 4 175 197 5,028 5,000 5,000 Total BSAI trawl limited access sector PSC 745 26,489 1,248,494 411,228 1,241,500 Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas and zones. 2 “Other flatfish” for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 3 Amendment 122 established the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program that further apportioned the BSAI trawl limited access sector Pacific cod PSC limits for halibut and crab between AFA CPs, PCTC A and B-season, and open access C-season (§ 679.131(c) and (d)). In 2024, NMFS will apply a 12.5 percent reduction to the A and B season trawl CV sector halibut PSC apportionment after the Council recommends and NMFS approves the BSAI trawl limited access sector's PSC limit apportionments to fishery categories (§ 679.131(c)(1)(iii)). In 2025 and every year thereafter, NMFS will apply a 25 percent reduction to the A and B season trawl CV sector halibut PSC apportionment. The crab PSC limits are reduced for the A and B season trawl CV sector PSC limit by 35 percent each year (§ 679.131(d)(1)(iii)). Any amount of the PCTC Program PSC limit remaining after the B season may be reapportioned to the trawl CV open access fishery in the C season. Because the annual PSC limits for the PCTC Program is not a fixed amount established in regulation and, instead, is determined annually through the harvest specification process, NMFS must apply the reduction to the A and B season apportionment of the trawl CV sector apportionment to implement the overall PSC reductions under the PCTC Program. 4 “Other species” for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses. Table 19—Final 2025 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors and Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program BSAI trawl limited access sector fisheries Prohibited species and area 1 Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 C. opilio (animals) COBLZ C. bairdi (animals) Zone 1 Zone 2 Yellowfin sole 250 23,337 1,192,179 346,228 1,185,500 Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 2 Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/Kamchatka flounder/sablefish Rockfish April 15-December 31 5 1,006 1,000 Total Pacific cod 3 315 2,955 50,281 60,000 50,000 AFA CP Pacific cod 6 278 4,726 5,640 4,700 PCTC Program Pacific cod, January 20-June 10 220 1,653 28,130 33,567 27,973 Trawl CV Pacific cod, June 10-November 1 16 134 2,278 2,718 2,265 PCTC Program unallocated reduction 73 890 15,147 18,075 15,062 Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 4 175 197 5,028 5,000 5,000 Total BSAI trawl limited access sector PSC 745 26,489 1,248,494 411,228 1,241,500 Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas and zones. 2 “Other flatfish” for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 3 Amendment 122 established the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program that further apportioned the BSAI trawl limited access sector Pacific cod PSC limits for halibut and crab between AFA CPs, PCTC A and B-season, and open access C-season (§ 679.131(c) and (d)). In 2025 and every year thereafter, NMFS will apply a 25 percent reduction to the A and B season trawl CV sector halibut PSC apportionment after the Council recommends and NMFS approves the BSAI trawl limited access sector's PSC limit apportionments to fishery categories (§ 679.131(c)(1)(iii)). The crab PSC limits are reduced for the A and B season trawl CV sector PSC limit by 35 percent each year (§ 679.131(d)(1)(iii)). Any amount of the PCTC Program PSC limit remaining after the B season may be reapportioned to the trawl CV open access fishery in the C season. Because the annual PSC limits for the PCTC Program is not a fixed amount established in regulation and, instead, is determined annually through the harvest specification process, NMFS must apply the reduction to the A and B season apportionment of the trawl CV sector apportionment to implement the overall PSC reductions under the PCTC Program. 4 “Other species” for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses. Table 20—Final 2024 and 2025 Halibut Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for Non-Trawl Fisheries Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI Non-trawl fisheries Seasons Catcher processor Catcher vessel All non-trawl Pacific cod Total Pacific cod 648 13 661 January 1-June 10 388 9 n/a June 10-August 15 162 2 n/a August 15-December 31 98 2 n/a Non-Pacific cod non-trawl-Total May 1-December 31 n/a n/a 49 Groundfish pot and jig n/a n/a n/a Exempt Sablefish hook-and-line n/a n/a n/a Exempt Total for all non-trawl PSC n/a n/a n/a 710 Note: Seasonal or sector allowances may not total precisely due to rounding. Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition The IPHC annually assesses the abundance and potential yield of the Pacific halibut stock using all available data from the commercial and sport fisheries, other removals, and scientific surveys. Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may be found in the IPHC's 2023 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December 2023), available on the IPHC website at https://www.iphc.int. The IPHC considered the 2023 Pacific halibut stock assessment at its January 2024 annual meeting when it set the 2024 commercial halibut fishery catch limits. Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMRs) To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch rates, DMRs, and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. Halibut incidental catch rates are based on observed estimates of halibut incidental catch in the groundfish fishery. DMRs are estimates of the proportion of incidentally caught halibut that do not survive after being returned to the sea. The cumulative halibut mortality that accrues to a particular halibut PSC limit is the product of a DMR multiplied by the estimated halibut PSC. DMRs are estimated using the best scientific information available in conjunction with the annual BSAI stock assessment process. The DMR methodology and findings are included as an appendix to the annual BSAI groundfish SAFE report. In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the Council's directive. An interagency halibut working group (IPHC, Council, and NMFS staff) developed improved estimation methods that have undergone review by the Plan Team, SSC, and the Council. A summary of the revised methodology is included in the BSAI proposed 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87863, December 6, 2016), and the comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical methodology is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES ). The DMR working group's revised methodology is intended to improve estimation accuracy, transparency, and transferability used for calculating DMRs. The working group will continue to consider improvements to the methodology used to calculate halibut mortality, including potential changes to the reference period (the period of data used for calculating the DMRs). The methodology continues to ensure that NMFS is using DMRs that accurately reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the sectors of their estimated halibut mortality and allow sectors to respond with methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, the DMR for that sector. At the December 2023 meeting, the SSC, AP, and the Council concurred with the revised DMR estimation methodology, and NMFS adopts for 2024 and 2025 the DMRs calculated under the revised methodology, which uses an updated 2-year reference period, except pot gear uses an updated 4-year reference period. The final 2024 and 2025 DMRs in this rule are unchanged from the DMRs in the proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (88 FR 84278, December 5, 2023). Table 21 lists these final 2024 and 2025 DMRs. Table 21—2024 and 2025 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR) for the BSAI Gear Sector Halibut discard mortality rate (percent) Pelagic trawl All 100 Non-pelagic trawl Mothership and catcher/processor 85 Non-pelagic trawl Catcher vessel 63 Hook-and-line Catcher/processor 7 Hook-and-line Catcher vessel 7 Pot All 26 Community Development Quota Group Quotas In 2006, Public Law 109-241 amended section 305(i)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1855(i)). This law specifies the allocation of CDQ groundfish and PSC amounts among the six CDQ groups. The six groups are the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association (APICDA), Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation (BBEDC), Central Bering Sea Fisherman's Association (CBSFA), Coastal Villages Regional Fund (CVRF), Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC), and Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association (YDFDA). NMFS published the CDQ and CDQ PSQ percentages on August 31, 2006 (71 FR 51804, August 31, 2006). Those percentages applied to the CDQ amounts in these harvest specifications are shown in table 22. Table 22—2024 CDQ Program Quota Categories, Target CDQ Reserves, Prohibited Species Quota (PSQ) Reserves, and CDQ Group Quotas Species or species group APICDA BBEDC CBSFA CVRF NSEDC YDFDA Total Groundfish CDQ Species CDQ Group Quotas Groundfish units are in metric tons BS Pollock A season 8,190 12,285 2,925 14,040 12,870 8,190 58,500 BS Pollock B season 10,010 15,015 3,575 17,160 15,730 10,010 71,500 BS Pollock Total 18,200 27,300 6,500 31,200 28,600 18,200 130,000 AI Pollock 266 399 95 456 418 266 1,900 BS FG Sablefish 120 160 128 144 248 800 AI FG Sablefish 177 241 38 342 291 177 1,266 BS Sablefish 63 66 27 39 39 66 300 AI Sablefish 41 32 13 21 19 33 158 BS Pacific cod 2,371 3,320 1,423 2,846 2,846 3,004 15,810 AI Pacific cod 130 182 78 156 156 164 865 WAI Atka Mackerel 770 385 205 385 359 462 2,565 CAI Atka Mackerel 538 269 143 269 251 323 1,793 EAI/BS Atka Mackerel 1,036 518 276 518 483 621 3,452 Yellowfin Sole 5,842 5,008 1,669 1,252 1,461 5,634 20,865 Yellowfin Sole ABC reserves 2,125 1,821 607 455 531 2,049 7,588 Rock Sole 1,695 1,624 565 777 777 1,624 7,062 Rock Sole ABC reserves 1,440 1,380 480 660 660 1,380 6,002 BS Greenland Turbot 46 58 23 49 55 58 288 Arrowtooth Flounder 330 330 135 195 180 330 1,498 Flathead Sole 760 798 342 570 570 760 3,799 Flathead Sole ABC reserves 680 714 306 510 510 680 3,401 WAI Pacific Ocean Perch 401 201 107 201 187 241 1,338 CAI Pacific Ocean Perch 177 89 47 89 83 106 591 EAI Pacific Ocean Perch 256 128 68 128 119 153 853 PSQ Halibut PSQ is in metric tons. Crab and salmon PSQ are in number of animals Zone 1 Red King Crab 2,491 2,180 830 1,245 1,245 2,387 10,379 Zone 1 Bairdi Tanner Crab 27,264 25,166 8,389 8,389 8,389 27,264 104,860 Zone 2 Bairdi Tanner Crab 76,270 73,092 25,423 34,957 31,779 76,270 317,790 COBLZ Opilio Tanner Crab 116,363 111,708 37,236 46,545 37,236 116,363 465,450 Pacific Halibut 69 69 28 38 38 72 315 BS Chinook Salmon A season 547 820 195 937 859 547 3,906 BS Chinook Salmon B season 139 208 50 238 218 139 990 BS Chinook Salmon total 685 1,028 245 1,175 1,077 685 4,896 AI Chinook Salmon 7 11 3 13 12 7 53 Non-Chinook Salmon 629 944 225 1,079 989 629 4,494 Directed Fishing Closures In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator may establish a DFA for a species or species group if the Regional Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment of a target species has been or will be reached. If the Regional Administrator establishes a DFA, and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group in the specified subarea, regulatory area, or district (see § 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant to § 679.21(b)(4) and (e)(7), if the Regional Administrator determines that a fishery category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio crab for a specified area has been reached, the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for each species or species group in that fishery category in the area specified by regulation for the remainder of the season or fishing year. Based on historical catch patterns and anticipated fishing activity, the Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish allocation amounts in table 23 will be necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2024 and 2025 fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and species groups in table 23 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these sectors and species or species groups in the specified areas effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 11, 2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, bycatch allowances of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab listed in table 23 are insufficient to support directed fisheries for the species and species groups listed in table 23. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.21(b)(4)(i) and (e)(7), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these sectors, species, and fishery categories in the specified areas effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 11, 2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. Table 23—2024 and 2025 Directed Fishing Closures 1 [Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals.] Area Sector Species 2024 Incidental catch allowance 2025 Incidental catch allowance Bogoslof District All Pollock 250 250 Aleutian Islands subarea All Greenland Turbot 426 366 Aleutian Islands subarea All ICA pollock 3,420 3,420 “Other rockfish” 2 380 380 Aleutian Islands subarea Trawl non-CDQ Sablefish 1,794 1,794 Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Sea Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and BSAI trawl limited access ICA Atka mackerel 800 800 Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Sea All Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish 330 350 Eastern Aleutian District Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and BSAI trawl limited access ICA Pacific ocean perch 100 100 Central Aleutian District Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and BSAI trawl limited access ICA Atka mackerel 75 75 ICA Pacific ocean perch 60 60 Western Aleutian District Non-amendment 80, CDQ and BSAI trawl limited access ICA Atka mackerel 20 20 ICA Pacific ocean perch 10 10 Western and Central Aleutian Districts All Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish 181 195 Bering Sea subarea Trawl non-CDQ Sablefish 3,398 4,038 Bering Sea subarea All Pacific ocean perch “Other rockfish” 2 ICA pollock 9,891 748 50,000 9,716 748 50,000 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Shortraker rockfish Skates Sharks Octopuses 451 25,941 340 340 451 25,807 340 340 Hook-and-line and pot gear ICA Pacific cod 500 500 All ICA flathead sole ICA rock sole 3,000 6,000 3,000 6,000 All ICA yellowfin sole 4,000 4,000 BSAI trawl limited access Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish—halibut mortality, red king crab Zone 1, C. opilio COBLZ, C. bairdi Zone 1 and 2 Turbot/arrowtooth/Kamchatka/sablefish—halibut mortality, red king crab Zone 1, C. opilio COBLZ, C. bairdi Zone 1 and 2 Rockfish—red king crab Zone 1 1 Maximum retainable amounts may be found in table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. 2 “Other rockfish” includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish. Closures implemented under the final 2023 and 2024 BSAI harvest specifications for groundfish (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) remain effective under authority of these final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications and until the date specified in those closure notifications. Closures are posted at the following website under the Alaska filter for Management Area: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/rules-and-announcements/bulletins. While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and prohibitions found at 50 CFR part 679. Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA CPs to engage in directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects resulting from the AFA fishery and from fishery cooperatives in the directed pollock fishery. These restrictions are set out as sideboard limits on catch. On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CPs from directed fishing for all groundfish species or species groups subject to sideboard limits (see § 679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and table 54 to 50 CFR part 679). Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA CPs from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the final 2024 and 2025 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt. Section 679.64(a)(2) and tables 40 and 41 to 50 CFR part 679 establish a formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for halibut and crab caught by listed AFA CPs. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). PSC species listed in table 24 that are caught by listed AFA CPs participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue against the final 2024 and 2025 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA CPs. Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), and (e)(7) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA CPs once a final 2024 or 2025 PSC sideboard limit listed in table 24 is reached. Pursuant to § 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (e)(3)(ii)(C), halibut or crab PSC by listed AFA CPs while fishing for pollock will accrue against the PSC allowances annually specified for the pollock/Atka mackerel/“other species” fishery categories, according to § 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv). Table 24—Final 2024 and 2025 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits PSC species and area 1 Ratio of PSC catch to total PSC 2024 and 2025 PSC available to trawl vessels after subtraction of PSQ 2 2024 and 2025 AFA catcher/ processor sideboard limit 2 Halibut mortality BSAI n/a n/a 286 Red king crab Zone 1 0.0070 86,621 606 C. opilio (COBLZ) 0.1530 3,884,550 594,336 C. bairdi Zone 1 0.1400 875,140 122,520 C. bairdi Zone 2 0.0500 2,652,210 132,611 1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas. 2 Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals. AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits Pursuant to § 679.64(b), the Regional Administrator is responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CVs to engage in directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects resulting from the AFA fishery and from fishery cooperatives in the pollock directed fishery. Section 679.64(b)(3) and (b)(4) and tables 40 and 41 to 50 CFR part 679 establish formulas for setting AFA CV groundfish and halibut and crab PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002), Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007), and Amendment 122 (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA CVs from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the final 2024 and 2025 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt. On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CVs from directed fishing for a majority of the groundfish species or species groups subject to sideboard limits (see § 679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and table 5 [Text truncated at 120,000 characters. The full text is on the page linked above.] --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2024-05093. Public record. Not legal advice.