Purpose and Need

Domestic fisheries for pollock were expanding rapidly in the Gulf of Alaska because of foreign joint venture opportunities. Domestic harvest expanded from only 1,900 mt in 1980 to 17,000 mt in 1981, to more than 75,000 mt in 1982. Lengthy plan amendments were needed at the time to make changes in allocations of fish to domestic and joint venture fishermen, and flexibility was needed for the Regional Administrator to reapportion reserves and domestic allocations to foreign fishermen if it was projected that domestic fishermen could not harvest it. The Regional Administrator also needed some flexibility to impose closures for conservation reasons on foreign fleets as had already been done for domestic fisheries. And finally, agencies needed to have accurate catch reporting, particularly from large factory trawlers that were capable of leaving the state to deliver their processed product elsewhere.

Analysis

A 21-page environmental assessment (EA) (dated May 1983) and 33-page regulatory impact review (RIR)/ initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) (dated April 1983) were completed for this amendment. The OY for pollock was increased to 143,000 mt, the midpoint of the MSY range of 95,200 mt to 191,000 mt for the Central Regulatory area. The sablefish OY was reduced and apportioned by smaller area to respond to conservation concerns and hasten rebuilding of the stocks. The introduction of the framework mechanism for changing DAP (Domestic Annual Processed Catch) and JVP (Joint Venture Processing) responded directly to the rapid pace of development in those domestic fisheries. The use of plan amendments was too slow a process. Bait and personal consumption were not being monitored and were better included in DAP rather than remaining a separate category. Authority for the Regional Administrator to reapportion unused domestic set-asides to foreign fisheries would ensure fuller use of OY. The Regional Administrator had authority to impose conservation closures on domestic fishermen. This amendment established similar consistent authority for the foreign fisheries. This amendment ensured that all catches were reported, even those bound to leave the state for landings elsewhere.

Regulation Summary

The amendment made the following changes: 

1) Increased OY for pollock in the Central Area of the Gulf from 95,200 mt to 143,000 mt;

2) Divided the Yakutat district into east Yakutat (137°-140° W) and West Yakutat (140°-147° W) for sablefish management;

3) Reduced OY for sablefish from 12,300 mt to a range of 7,730-8,900 mt and apportioned it among the regulatory areas and districts;

4) Established a framework procedure for the Regional Administrator to annually determine domestic (DAP) and joint venture (JVP) components of domestic annual harvest (DAH) for each species’ OY;

5) Eliminated the domestic non-processed (bait and personal consumption) component of DAH, combining it within the purely domestic component, DAP;

6) Increased flexibility of Regional Administrator to reapportion reserves and surplus DAH to foreign fishing (TALFF);

7) Authorized Regional Administrator to impose time-area closures on foreign nations to conserve resources; and

8) Imposed radio/telephone catch reporting requirements on domestic vessels leaving State waters to land fish outside Alaska.

Results

This omnibus amendment provided for increased pollock catch to match the needs of the growing domestic industry, and reduced sablefish harvests for conservation purposes. It increased the ability of the Regional Administrator to respond to needs of the domestic fisheries, while promoting fuller use of OY. Additionally, it enhanced the agency’s ability to monitor catch.