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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 32 / Friday, February 19, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 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 GOA stock assessment process. The DMR methodology and findings are included as an appendix to the annual GOA groundfish SAFE
report.
In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the Councils directive. An interagency halibut working group IPHC, Council, and NMFS staff developed improved estimation methods that have undergone review by the GOA Plan Team, SSC, and the Council. A
summary of the revised methodology is contained in the GOA proposed 2017
and 2018 harvest specifications 81 FR

87881, December 6, 2016, and the comprehensive discussion of the working groups statistical methodology is available from the Council see ADDRESSES. The DMR working groups revised methodology is intended to improve estimation accuracy, transparency, and transferability in the methodology 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.
Future DMRs may change based on additional years of observer sampling, which could provide more recent and accurate data and which could improve the accuracy of estimation and progress on methodology. The new methodology will continue to ensure that NMFS is
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using DMRs that more accurately reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the different sectors of their estimated halibut mortality and allow specific sectors to respond with methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, the DMR for that sector.
At the December 2020 meeting, the SSC, AP, and the Council concurred with the revised DMR estimation methodology, and NMFS adopts for 2021 and 2022 the DMRs calculated under the revised methodology, which uses an updated 2-year reference period.
The final 2021 and 2022 DMRs in this rule are unchanged from the DMRs in the proposed 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications 85 FR 78076, December 3, 2020. Table 17 lists these final 2021
and 2022 DMRs.

TABLE 17FINAL 2021 AND 2022 HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA
Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead Gear
Sector
Groundfish fishery
Pelagic trawl

Catcher vessel
Catcher/processor
Catcher vessel
Catcher vessel
Mothership and catcher/processor
Catcher/processor
Catcher vessel
Catcher vessel and catcher/processor

All
All
Rockfish Program
All others
All
All
All
All

Non-pelagic trawl
Hook-and-line
Pot

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Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits Amendment 93 to the FMP 77 FR
42629, July 20, 2012 established separate Chinook salmon PSC limits in the Western and Central GOA in the directed pollock trawl fishery. These limits require that NMFS close the pollock directed fishery in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA if the applicable Chinook salmon PSC limit in that regulatory area is reached 679.21h8. The annual Chinook salmon PSC limits in the pollock directed fishery of 6,684 salmon in the Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA are set at 679.21h2i and ii.
Amendment 97 to the FMP 79 FR
71350, December 2, 2014 established an initial annual PSC limit of 7,500
Chinook salmon for the trawl nonpollock groundfish fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. This limit is apportioned among the three sectors that conduct directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock:
3,600 Chinook salmon to trawl CPs;
1,200 Chinook salmon to trawl CVs
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participating in the Rockfish Program;
and 2,700 Chinook salmon to trawl CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program 679.21h4. NMFS will monitor the Chinook salmon PSC in the trawl non-pollock groundfish fisheries and close an applicable sector if it reaches its Chinook salmon PSC limit.
The Chinook salmon PSC limit for two sectors, trawl CPs and trawl CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program, may be increased in subsequent years based on the performance of these two sectors and their ability to minimize their use of their respective Chinook salmon PSC limits. If either or both of these two sectors limits its use of Chinook salmon PSC to a specified threshold amount in 2020 3,120 for trawl CPs and 2,340 for Non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs, that sector will receive an incremental increase to its 2021 Chinook salmon PSC limit 679.21h4. In 2020, the trawl CP
sector did not exceed 3,120 Chinook salmon PSC; therefore, the 2021 trawl CP sector Chinook salmon PSC limit will be 4,080 Chinook salmon. In 2020, the Non-Rockfish Program trawl CV

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Halibut discard mortality rate percent 100
100
60
69
84
15
13
10

sector did not exceed 2,340 Chinook salmon PSC; therefore, the 2021 NonRockfish Program trawl CV sector Chinook salmon PSC limit will be 3,060
Chinook salmon.
American Fisheries Act AFA Catcher/
Processor and Catcher Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limits Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing sideboard limitations on AFA CPs and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who do not directly benefit from the AFA from those fishermen and processors who receive exclusive harvesting and processing privileges under the AFA.
Section 679.7k1ii prohibits listed AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed AFA CP permit from harvesting any species of groundfish in the GOA.
Additionally, 679.7k1iv prohibits listed AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed AFA CP permit from processing any pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.

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