Information Bulletins from November and December 1999

IB 99-141: NMFS Announces Workshop on Permitting Requirements for 2000 Bering Sea Pollock Fisheries under the AFA November 09, 1999 - 8:15 a.m.

NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region, will present a workshop on 2000 permit requirements for vessels, processors, and cooperatives wishing to participate in the Bering Sea pollock fishery under the American Fisheries Act, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. The workshop will be held on November 29, 1999, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Building 9, Auditorium, 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Seattle, WA. The workshop will provide participants in the Bering Sea pollock fishery with information on how to apply for permits to participate in the 2000 Bering Sea pollock fishery prior to the scheduled start of the fishery on January 20. Industry submission of permit applications and agency issuance of applicable permits would be necessary to comply with the 2000 implementation deadline specified in the American Fisheries Act.

IB 99-142: NMFS Opens Trawl Pacific cod in the BSAI November 10, 1999 - 3:40 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, November 16, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This action is necessary to fully utilize the 1999 halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the trawl Pacific cod fishery. All other closures remain in full force and effect.

IB 99-143: NMFS Opens Fixed Gear Pacific Cod in the BSAI December 01, 1999 - 4:15 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, December 6, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This action is necessary to fully utilize the portion of the 1999 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in this area. 
All other closures remain in full force and effect.

IB 99-144: NMFS Reallocates Pacific Cod in the BSAI December 06, 1999 - 2:00 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is reallocating projected unused amounts of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) Pacific cod from trawl catcher/processors and trawl catcher vessels to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. The following table summarizes the reallocation in metric tons:

IB 99-145: NMFS Announces R&R Workshop at Homer, Alaska December 07, 1999 - 4:05 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region, and the United States Coast Guard, North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center (USCG), will present an integrated approach to clarify and simplify NMFS 2000 recordkeeping and reporting requirements (R&R) for the Alaska groundfish fisheries. The workshop will take place on December 15, 1999, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Alaska local time, at the Bidarka Inn, 575 Sterling Highway, Homer, Alaska, according to Steven Pennoyer, Alaska Region Administrator. The workshop will introduce the new shoreside processor electronic logbook delivery report. Information on required permits will be given as well as detailed instructions on completion and submittal of logsheets and reporting forms to record information for the American Fisheries Act, open-access groundfish, Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program, Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ), and at-sea scale programs. Instructions on completion of fish tickets and the Commercial Operators Annual Report will be presented by Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff. In addition, feedback from the fishing industry will be welcome on how the R&R Program is working and on any R&R issues that need to be addressed by NOAA Fisheries.

IB 99-146: NMFS Announces R&R Workshop at Kodiak, Alaska December 08, 1999 - 8:55 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region, and the United States Coast Guard, North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center (USCG), will present an integrated approach to clarify and simplify NMFS 2000 recordkeeping and reporting requirements (R&R) for the Alaska groundfish fisheries. The workshops will take place on December 16, 1999, at 7:00 p.m. and again December 17, 1999, at 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Alaska local time, at the USCG North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center, Kodiak, Alaska, according to Steven Pennoyer, Alaska Region Administrator.  See IB 99-145 (above) for description of workshop.

IB 99-147: Bycatch Rate Standards for the First Half of 2000 for Purposes of the Vessel Incentive Program December 23, 1999 - 10:00 a.m.

Halibut and red king crab bycatch rate standards for the Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries included under the vessel incentive program are established for the first half of 2000, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region. These standards are specified for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) trawl fisheries during the first half of 2000 as follows:

A vessel's observed bycatch rate for a fishing month that is above the applicable bycatch rate standard constitutes a violation of the regulations implementing the vessel incentive program. The 2000 fishing months are specified as the following periods for purposes of calculating vessel bycatch rates:

Month 1: January 1 through January 29; Month 2: January 30 through February 26; Month 3: February 27 through April 1; Month 4: April 2 through May 6; Month 5: May 7 through June 3; Month 6: June 4 through July 1; Month 7: July 2 through July 29; Month 8: July 30 through September 2; Month 9: September 3 through September 30; Month 10: October 1 through October 28; Month 11: October 29 through December 2; and Month 12: December 3 through December 31.

IB 99-148: NMFS Establishes Permit Requirements for the BSAI Pollock Fishery Under the AFA December 28, 1999 - 2:15 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries submitted to the Federal Register an emergency interim rule that sets out permit requirements for vessels, processors, and cooperatives wishing to participate in the BSAI pollock fishery under the AFA, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This emergency interim rule is necessary to provide participants in the BSAI pollock fishery with the opportunity to apply for permits to participate in the BSAI pollock fishery prior to the scheduled start of the fishery on January 20, and to implement sideboard restrictions to protect other Alaska fisheries from negative impacts as a result of fishery cooperatives formed under the AFA.

IB 99-149: NMFS Closes Specified Fisheries in the BSAI December 29, 1999 - 8:00 a.m.

NOAA Fisheries is closing specified fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 0001 hours, Alaska local time, January 1, 2000. These closures will remain effective until superseded by the Final 2000 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. NOAA Fisheries is prohibiting directed fishing for:

These actions are necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 interim total allowable catch of groundfish and halibut bycatch allowances specified for certain trawl fisheries. After the effective date of this closure, the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.

IB 99-150: NMFS Closes Specified Fisheries in the GOA December 29, 1999 - 8:00 a.m.

NOAA Fisheries is closing specified fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 0001 hours, Alaska local time, January 1, 2000. These closures will remain effective until superseded by the Final 2000 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. NOAA Fisheries is closing directed fishing for:

These actions are necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 interim total allowable catch of groundfish. After the effective date of this closure, the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.

IB 99-151: NMFS Publishes a Proposed Rule to Establish an IFQ Cost Recovery Program December 29, 1999 - 2:45 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries requests public comment on the proposed rule that would establish a Cost Recovery Program for the fixed gear halibut and sablefish fisheries under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 1999 (64 FR 72302). The comment period for this proposed rule ends January 26, 2000. Section 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires the Secretary of Commerce to collect fees to recover actual costs incurred for Federal management and enforcement of IFQ fisheries. This action would require IFQ permit holders to pay up to 3% of the exvessel value of their IFQ landings to NMFS via a Fee Submission Form by January 31 of the following year. By the end of each year, NMFS would provide this form to each IFQ permit holder who had a reported IFQ landing during the year. NMFS would also provide an IFQ landing summary and estimated fee liability to each of these IFQ permit holders. The rule would also establish additional recordkeeping and reporting requirements of IFQ registered buyers who operate as shoreside processors and receive and purchase IFQ landings of sablefish or halibut for purposes of collecting exvessel value information.

IB 99-152: NMFS Announces R&R Workshop at Seattle, Washington December 30, 1999 - 11:40 a.m.

The NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region, and the United States Coast Guard, North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center (USCG), will present an integrated approach to clarify and simplify NMFS 2000 recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the Alaska groundfish fisheries. The workshop will take place on Thursday, January 6, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. at the NOAA/NMFS Alaska Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Building 1, WASC Conference Room, Seattle, WA, according to Steven Pennoyer, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region Administrator.

The workshop will introduce the new shoreside processor electronic logbook delivery report. Information on required permits will be given as well as instructions on completion and submittal of logsheets and reporting forms to record information for the American Fisheries Act, open-access groundfish, Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program, Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ), and at-sea scale programs. Instructions on completion of fish tickets and the Commercial Operators Annual Report will be presented by Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff. In addition, feedback from the fishing industry will be welcome on how the Program is working and on any  issues that need to be addressed by NOAA Fisheries..

IB 99-153: NMFS Announces R&R Workshop at Dutch Harbor, Alaska December 30, 1999 - 11:45 a.m.

NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region, and the United States Coast Guard, North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center (USCG), will present an integrated approach to clarify and simplify NMFS 2000 recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the Alaska groundfish fisheries. The workshops will take place on Monday, January 17, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. (At-sea Requirements) and Tuesday, January 18, 2000, at 2:00 p.m. (Shoreside Requirements) at the Grand Aleutian Hotel, Dutch Harbor, AK. See IB 99-152 (above) for description of workshop.

IB 99-154: NMFS Announces R&R Workshop at Sitka, Alaska December 30, 1999 - 11:50 a.m.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Region, and the United States Coast Guard, North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center (USCG), will present an integrated approach to clarify and simplify NMFS 2000 recordkeeping and reporting requirements (R&R) for the Alaska groundfish fisheries. The workshop will take place on Friday, February 11, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. at the Westmark Shee Atika Hotel, Sitka, AK.  See IB 99-152 (above) for description of workshop.