Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revisions to Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements; Alaska Commercial Operator’s Annual Report
NMFS issues a proposed rule to require groundfish motherships and catcher/processors to submit to the State of Alaska, Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), an annual Commercial Op...
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Proposed rule; request for comments.
SUMMARY:
NMFS issues a proposed rule to require groundfish motherships and catcher/processors to submit to the State of Alaska, Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), an annual Commercial Operator's Annual Report (COAR). The COAR provides information on exvessel and first wholesale values for statewide finfish and shellfish products. The State of Alaska currently requires shoreside processors to submit this information to ADF&G. This proposed rule is necessary to extend these requirements to all groundfish processing sectors off Alaska in order to provide for equivalent annual product value information and for a consistent time series of information. This proposed rule is intended to further the objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES:
Comments must be received by January 16, 2001.
ADDRESSES:
Comments on the proposed rule may be mailed to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or delivered to Federal Building, Fourth Floor, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska, and marked Attn: Lori Gravel. Hand- or courier-delivered comments may be sent to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Room 453, Juneau, AK 99801. Send comments on the collection-of-information requirements to the same address and to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20503 (Attn: NOAA Desk Officer).
Send comments on any ambiguity or unnecessary complexity arising from the language used in this proposed rule to the Administrator, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
NMFS manages fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Alaska in accordance with the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMPs under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Regulations implementing the FMPs at 50 CFR part 679 and subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 govern fishing by U.S. vessels. Recordkeeping and reporting requirements appear at 50 CFR 679.5.
Catcher/processors and motherships operating in the EEZ off Alaska represent a significant part of the total capacity of groundfish processors in the BSAI and GOA and account for a substantial part of the total landings each year, but currently are not required to supply groundfish product value information. In February 1999, the Council requested that NMFS collect exvessel and first wholesale value data for fish and shellfish products from motherships and catcher/processors through the COAR. Currently, shoreside processors and stationary floating processors are required to submit the COAR annually under title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code (AAC), chapter 39.130. The information submitted in the COAR is protected by Alaska State confidentiality statute AS 16.05.815.
NMFS proposes to require federally permitted motherships and catcher/processors to complete and submit the Alaska COAR on an annual basis. Combining these data from motherships and catcher/processors with the information from shoreside processors and stationary floating processors would yield equivalent annual product value information for all processing sectors and would provide a consistent time series of information. NMFS could use this information to more efficiently manage groundfish resources. NMFS and the State of Alaska would coordinate the use of the information generated by the COAR.
The expected result of expanding the COAR’s collection of information would be an enhanced socioeconomic database that NMFS could use to more accurately measure economic and socioeconomic impacts and to prepare economic analyses of proposed or existing management measures. It would provide detailed (and consistent) data on production, prices, and product forms that NMFS would use to respond to requests for economic information from Federal and state management agencies, the fishing industry, and the general public. NMFS would also use the COAR data in analyses it prepares in compliance with the mandates of Executive Order 12866, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, including national standards 2, 4, 7 and 8, the American Fisheries Act (to monitor and report to Congress on the effects and efficacy of the new groundfish management programs), and the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Additionally, the database would be used in the annual NMFS Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation documents for the groundfish fisheries of the BSAI and GOA, in annual Federal publications on the value of U.S. commercial fisheries, and in periodic reports that describe the fisheries.
( printed page 78132)
The information would be collected annually on COAR paper application forms from all catcher/processors and motherships issued a Federal Fisheries permit to conduct fishing activities in the EEZ of the BSAI or GOA. ADF&G would provide the COAR forms to each mothership and catcher/processor on an annual basis to record information from the previous year. The motherships and catcher/processors would submit the COAR the following April to ADF&G, Juneau, AK. Each mothership or catcher/processor would be required to complete and submit one or more pages of the COAR to ADF&G for computer data entry. Only one COAR would be required from a vessel that functions both as a mothership and as a catcher/processor during a given year. A certification page would be submitted to indicate that no receipt or production of groundfish took place for that year, and that no other COAR pages would be required. Information from motherships and catcher/processors would be verified using the NMFS weekly production report data base. Information from processors that operate in state waters and shore-based processors would be verified using the ADF&G fish ticket data base.
About 58 percent of the motherships and catcher/processors that would be affected by this proposed rule are already voluntarily complying with the COAR requirement. In 1998, approximately 96 motherships and 237 catcher/processors were issued Federal Fisheries Permits, for a total of 333 at-sea processors. In 1998, based on weekly production report data, 35 motherships and 99 catcher/processors were active. Because 32 of the motherships also functioned as catcher/processors, a more accurate estimate of at-sea processors is 102. A total of 59 at-sea processors complied voluntarily with the 1998 State's data collection requirement and submitted a COAR to ADF&G, leaving approximately 43 processors that did not voluntarily submit the report.
This proposed rule would revise regulations at § 679.2 by adding a definition of COAR and at § 679.5 by adding a new paragraph (p) that sets forth requirements on completing and submitting the C OAR. Finally, several tables would be amended or added to part 679, specifically:
Table 1—Product Codes
would be amended by removing code 96 and replacing it with two new codes, codes 88 and 89. Code 96 was established as a category for fish that were in any way adulterated. However, regulations require different handling of fish dependent on the type of adulteration. Therefore code 96, the “discard, decomposed” category, would be split into code 88 for flea-infested or parasite-infested fish, and code 89 for previously discarded or decomposed fish.
Table 14—Ports of landing, including CDQ and IFQ primary ports.
Table 14, which currently lists CDQ and IFQ primary port codes, would be amended by creating three separate subtables (a, b, c) that show geographic subdivisions with the appropriate NMFS and ADF&G codes for each port of landing. The ADF&G developed alpha codes to designate ports in its computer database, while NMFS developed numerical codes to designate ports in its database. The ADF&G fish ticket program uses the alpha codes. The CDQ and IFQ programs use the NMFS numerical codes for ports of landing, and the IFQ program uses the NMFS numerical codes in the card-swipe terminal. With the advent of the NMFS shoreside processor electronic logbook and electronic weekly production reports, that use the numerical codes and this proposed expansion of the COAR that uses the alpha codes, NMFS proposes combining in one table both sets of codes in addition to the coordinates for those ports identified by NMFS as primary ports for the IFQ program. Table 14a would present the NMFS codes and the ADF&G codes for ports of landing in Alaska. Table 14b would present the NMFS codes and the ADF&G codes for ports of landing in California, Oregon, and Canada. Table 14c would present the NMFS codes and the ADF&G codes for ports of landing in Washington.
Table 15—Gear Codes, descriptions, and use.
Table 15 (which currently describes gear codes and descriptions used with the IFQ Program on the card-swipe terminal plus ADF&G gear codes used on fish tickets) would be expanded to include all ADF&G gear codes. In addition, NMFS and ADF&G have agreed upon uniform definitions of gear types where differences existed. While ADF&G developed numeric codes to designate gear type in its computer database, NMFS developed alpha codes to designate gear type in its database. The CDQ and IFQ programs use the ADF&G numeric codes for gear type, and the IFQ program uses the ADF&G numeric codes for gear type in the card-swipe terminal. In addition, the NMFS logbook system uses whole words to describe a fewer number of gear types (e.g., trawl, jig). With the advent of the NMFS groundfish electronic weekly production reports (which use the alpha codes), the NMFS shoreside processor electronic logbook (which uses the whole words and both the numeric and alpha codes), and this proposed expansion of the COAR (which uses the numeric codes), NMFS proposes to combine in one table, all references to gear types used by either NMFS or ADF&G and to indicate where they are used.
Table 16—Area Codes and descriptions for use with ADF&G COAR.
Table 16 would be added to present ADF&G area codes that are used in the COAR. The State of Alaska developed two major systems over a period of about 25 years: the fish ticket system and the COAR. ADF&G defines registration areas for fish tickets as geographic areas for a species where fisheries are managed by the State, meaning that a person must be registered with the State (permitted) to fish in that area for that species. ADF&G registration areas are described in State of Alaska regulations with specific latitude and longitude coordinates, but geographic areas are not necessarily consistent between species. The COAR defines areas generally, often in terms of prominent features or the location of a processing plant. State of Alaska regulations do not describe the COAR areas. NMFS describes areas first by management area (Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska) and then by reporting area. NMFS’s data collection for all species uses the NMFS area designations (a Federal reporting area often contains State waters). The COAR describes federal waters as: FB for Federal waters, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; FG for Federal waters, Gulf of Alaska, and means waters outside of 3 miles in its 200-mile limit. Because the COAR requests information from both ADF&G registration areas and Federal management areas, NMFS proposes to combine in one table, all references to areas used by either ADF&G registration areas or ADF&G COAR. ADF&G is currently working on revising the COAR area descriptions to correspond to ADF&G registration areas. Table 16 would be referenced when completing the COAR to describe areas where products were processed and where products were purchased.
Table 17—COAR Process Codes.
Table 17 would be added to present ADF&G codes that describe processes that are used in the COAR.
Table 18—COAR Buying and Production Forms.
Table 18 would be added to present the ADF&G buying and production reporting forms that make up the COAR. A separate form is used for each species/gear combination, and for reporting buying of fish or production of fish products.
( printed page 78133)
Classification
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number.
This proposed rule contains collection-of-information requirements subject to the PRA. The proposed collection with this rulemaking has been submitted to OMB for review and approval. The estimated response times for the COAR requirements are estimated to range from 0.5 hr to 16 hr, at an average of 8 hr per year.
Public comment is sought regarding this proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments on these or any other aspects of the collection to NMFS and OMB (see
ADDRESSES
).
This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as follows.
It is difficult to project how many of the firms that will be affected will fall into different size classes. NMFS has attempted to determine the numbers of BSAI and GOA groundfish catcher-processing operations that may be called small on the basis of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guidelines for fishing firms. These guidelines use a $3,000,000 gross revenue threshold to separate small from large operations. These also require that the $3,000,000 threshold consider income to all affiliated operations in its application to any one firm.
NMFS reporting suggests that 70 of the 91 catcher-processors operating in 1999 were small vessels and that 21 were large. These totals changed significantly from 1997 when 58 of the catcher-processors were small and 58 were large. Three of the six motherships grossed more than $3,000,000 in 1999.
These NMFS reports are believed to overstate the numbers of small catcher-processors and motherships and to understate the numbers of large catcher-processors and motherships (with respect to the SBA definitions) for the following reasons: (1) a vessel’s earnings from other fisheries and activities were not included, (2) a vessel owner’s earnings from other sources (i.e., another vessel) were not included, (3) the ex-vessel value of a delivery by a catcher-vessel to an at-sea processor was included only when a fish ticket with value data was submitted for the delivery, (4) vessel specific fish ticket landings weight and value data are used to estimate ex-vessel value for catcher vessels but such data are not available for all deliveries to inshore processors, (5) these estimates do not take account of affiliation relationships that may exist between an individual vessel and other fishing or processing operations.
In 1999 there were 91 catcher-processors and six motherships (that did not also function as catcher processors) in the at-sea processing sector. In 1998, 59 out of 102 at-sea processors, or 58%, filed COAR reports in the absence of this regulation and 43, or 42%, did not. If the percentages were similar in 1999, 41 firms would not file COAR reports in the absence of this regulatory change.
It is estimated that completion of the COAR report takes 15 minutes of overhead time, and an additional 15 minutes for each species and product combination produced by the firm. Weekly Processor Reports for 1999 indicate that vessels were producing an average of 15 species and product combinations. The COAR report will increase the number of species and product combinations to be considered. For the purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that this will increase the number of species and product combinations by 50%, to 23. This means that it may take 360 minutes, or 6 hours, to fill out each COAR report.
It is estimated to cost $50/hour to complete these forms. This implies that the cost for completing a COAR report would be $300 if it took 6 hours. If regulatory change requires 41 vessels to begin to fill out these reports, the total annual additional compliance cost for all at-sea processors would be $12,300.
While it is hard to project the numbers of firms of different sizes that will be affected by this rule, it seems likely, on the basis of the considerations described in the cost discussion of this section, that this requirement will not have a substantial impact on the cash flow, or the profitability, of either large or small groundfish at-sea processors.
As noted above, the total annual industry cost of this rule is estimated to be about $12,300. In addition there will be some start-up expenses. The average cost for an individual vessel is estimated to be about $300. It has been estimated that in 1999 groundfish catcher-processors produced a processed value of about $469.6 million (this catcher-processor gross combined with an estimated 1999 mothership gross of $22.8 million, gave a total at-sea processor gross of $492.4 million). This is an average of $5.16 million for each catcher-processor operation. As noted above, only 21 operations grossed more than $3 million so the distribution of harvest values is highly skewed. Nevertheless, it seems unlikely that even smaller catcher processors will find their cash flow or profitability significantly negatively impacted.
Based on the above description, NMFS has determined that this action would not have a “significant impact” as NMFS has interpreted that term to mean that it would have disproportionate or profitability impacts. The proposed requirement would not place affected entities at a significant competitive disadvantage relative to large entities, and would not significantly reduce profit for the regulated entity. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not prepared.
The President has directed Federal agencies to use plain language in their communications with the public, including regulations. To comply with that directive, we seek public comment on any ambiguity or unnecessary complexity arising from the language used in this proposed rule. Such comments should be sent to the Alaska Regional Administrator (see
ADDRESSES
).
Commercial Operator’s Annual Report (COAR)
means the annual report of information on exvessel and first wholesale values for fish and shellfish required under Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code, chapter 39.130 (see § 679.5(o)).
* * * * *
3. Section 679.5 is amended by adding paragraph (p) to read as follows:
(p)
Commercial Operator’s Annual Report (COAR)
—(1)
Requirement. The owner of a mothership or catcher/processor must annually complete and submit to ADF&G the appropriate Forms
( printed page 78134)
A through M and COAR certification page for each year in which the mothership or catcher/processor was issued a Federal Fisheries permit. The owner of a mothership must include all fish received and processed during the year, including fish received from an associated buying station. The ADF&G COAR is further described under Alaska Administrative Code (5 AAC 39.130) (see § 679.3(b)(2)).
(2)
Time limit and submittal of COAR.
The owner of a mothership or catcher/processor must submit to ADF&G the appropriate Forms A through M and COAR certification page by April 1 of the year following the year of issuance of a Federal Fisheries permit to the following address: Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, Attn: COAR, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, Alaska 99802-5526
(3)
Information required, certification page. The owner of a mothership or catcher/processor must:
(i) Enter the company name and address, including street, city, state, and zip code; also seasonal mailing address, if applicable.
(ii) Enter the vessel name and ADF&G processor code.
(iii) Check YES or NO to indicate whether fishing activity occurred conducted during the appropriate year.
(iv) If response to paragraph (o)(3)(iii) of this section is YES, complete the applicable forms of the COAR (see table 18 to this part) and complete and sign the certification page.
(v) If response to paragraph (o)(3)(iii) of this section is NO, complete and sign only the certification page.
(vi) Sign and enter printed or typed name, e-mail address, title, telephone number, and FAX number of owner.
(vii) Enter printed or typed name, e-mail address, and telephone number of alternate contact.
(4)
Buying forms (exvessel), Forms A(1-3), C(1-2), E, G, I(1-2), K, and M.—(i)
Requirement. If the mothership was the first purchaser of raw fish, the owner must record and submit the appropriate COAR buying forms (A(1-3), C(1-2), E, G, I(1-2), K, and M) for all information for each species purchased during the applicable year.
(ii)
Buying information required. The owner of the mothership must record the following information on the appropriate COAR buying forms:
(A) Species name and code (see table 2 to this part).
(B) Area purchased (see table 16 to this part).
(C) Gear code (see table 15 to this part).
(D) Delivery code (form G only) (see table 1 to this part).
(E) Total pounds (to the nearest lb) purchased from fishermen.
(F) Total amount paid to fishermen, including all post- season adjustments and/or bonuses and any credit received by fishermen for gas expenses, ice, delivery premiums, and other miscellaneous expenses.
(G) Price per pound. If additional adjustments would be made after this report has been filed, the owner must check the “$ not final” box, and submit Form M when these adjustments are paid. Do not include fish purchased from another processor.
(5)
Wholesale production forms, Forms B(1-6), D, F, H, J(1-2), and K). For purposes of this paragraph, the total wholesale value is the amount that the processor receives for the finished product (free on board pricing mothership or catcher/processor). For products finished but not yet sold (still held in inventory), calculate the estimated value using the average price received to date for that product.
(i)
Requirement
—(A)
Mothership. The owner of a mothership must record and submit the appropriate COAR production forms (B(1-6), D, F, H, J(1-2), and K) for all production for each species during the applicable year:
(
1) That were purchased from fishermen on the grounds and/or dockside, including both processed and unprocessed seafood.
(
2) That were then either processed on the mothership or exported out of the State of Alaska.
(B)
Catcher/processor. The owner of a catcher/processor must record and submit the appropriate COAR production forms (B(1-6), D, F, H, J(1-2), and K) for each species harvested during the applicable year that were then either processed on the vessel or exported out of the State of Alaska.
(ii)
Information required, non-canned production.
(A) Enter area of processing (see table 16 to this part). List production of Canadian-harvested fish separately.
(B) Processed product. Processed product must be described by entering three codes:
(
1) Process prefix code (see table 17 to this part).
(
2) Process suffix code (see table 17 to this part).
(
3) Product code (see table 1 to this part).
(C) Total net weight. Enter total weight in pounds of the finished product.
(D) Total value($). Enter the total wholesale value of the finished product.
(E) Enter price per pound of the finished product.
(iii)
Information required, canned production. Complete an entry for each can size produced:
(A) Enter area of processing (see table 16 to this part).
(B) Process 51 or 52. Enter conventional canned code (51) or smoked, conventional canned code (52).
(C) Total value($). Enter the total wholesale value of the finished product.
(D) Enter price per pound of the finished product.
(E) Enter can size in ounces, to the hundredth of an ounce.
(F) Enter number of cans per case.
(G) Enter number of cases.
(6)
Custom production forms, Form L(1-2)
—(i)
Requirement. The owner of a mothership or catcher/processor must record and submit COAR production form L(1-2) for each species in which custom production was done by the mothership or catcher/processor for another processor and for each species in which custom production was done for the mothership or catcher/processor by another processor.
(ii)
Custom-production by mothership or catcher/processor for another processor. If the mothership or catcher/processor custom-processed fish or shellfish for another processor during the applicable year, the owner of the mothership or catcher/processor must list the processor name and ADF&G processor code (if known) to describe that processor, but must not include any of that production in production form L(1-2).
(iii)
Custom-production by another processor for mothership or catcher/processor. If a processor custom-processed fish or shellfish for the mothership or catcher/processor during the applicable year, the owner of the mothership or catcher/processor must use a separate page to list each processor and must include the following information.
(A)
Custom fresh/frozen miscellaneous production. The owner of a mothership or catcher/processor must list the following information to describe production intended for wholesale/retail market and that are not frozen for canning later:
(
1) Species name and code (see table 2 to this part).
(
2) Area of processing (see table 16 to this part).
(
3) Processed product. Processed product must be entered using three codes:
(
i) Process prefix code (see table 17 to this part).
(
ii) Process suffix code (see table 17 to this part).
(
iii) Product code (see table 1 to this part).
( printed page 78135)
(
4) Total net weight. Enter total weight in pounds of the finished product.
(
5) Total wholesale value($). Enter the total wholesale value of the finished product.
(B)
Custom canned production. The owner of a mothership or catcher/processor must list the following information to describe each can size produced in custom canned production:
(
1) Species name and code (see table 2 to this part).
(
2) Area of processing (see table 16 to this part).
(
3) Process 51 or 52. Enter conventional canned code (51) or smoked, conventional canned code (52).
(
4) Total wholesale value($). Enter the total wholesale value of the finished product.
(
5) Can size in ounces, to the hundredth of an ounce.
(
6) Number of cans per case.
(
7) Number of cases.
(7)
Fish buying retro payments/post-season adjustments, Form M
—(i)
Requirement. The owner of a mothership must record and submit COAR production Form M to describe additional adjustments and/or bonuses awarded to a fisherman, including credit received by fishermen for gas expenses, ice, delivery premiums, and other miscellaneous expenses.
(ii)
Information required.
(A) Enter species name and code (see table 2 to this part).
(B) Enter area purchased (see table 16 to this part).
(C) Enter gear code (see table 16 to this part).
(D) Enter total pounds purchased from fisherman.
(E) Enter total amount paid to fishermen (base + adjustment).
4. In part 679, tables 1, 14 and 15 to part 679 are revised; tables 16, 17, and 18 to part 679 are added.
Table 1 to Part 679.—Product and Delivery Codes (These codes describe the condition of the fish at the point it is weighed and recorded)
Product Description
Code
GENERAL USE CODES
Belly flaps. Flesh in region of pelvic and pectoral fins and behind head. (ancillary only)
19
Bled only. Throat, or isthmus, slit to allow blood to drain.
03
Bled fish destined for fish meal (includes offsite production) DO NOT RECORD ON PTR.
42
Bones (if meal, report as 32) (ancillary only).
39
Butterfly, no backbone. Head removed, belly slit, viscera and most of backbone removed; fillets attached.
37
Cheeks. Muscles on sides of head (ancillary only)
17
Chins. Lower jaw (mandible), muscles, and flesh (ancillary only)
18
Fillets, deep-skin. Meat with skin, adjacent meat with silver lining, and ribs removed from sides of body behind head and in front of tail, resulting in thin fillets.
24
Fillets, skinless/boneless. Meat with both skin and ribs removed, from sides of body behind head and in front of tail.
23
Fillets with ribs, no skin. Meat with ribs with skin removed, from sides of body behind head and in front of tail.
22
Fillets with skin and ribs. Meat and skin with ribs attached, from sides of body behind head and in front of tail.
20
Fillets with skin, no ribs. Meat and skin with ribs removed, from sides of body behind head and in front of tail.
21
Fish meal. Meal from whole fish or fish parts; includes bone meal.
32
Fish oil. Rendered oil from whole fish or fish parts. Record only oil destined for sale and not oil stored or burned for fuel onboard.
33
Gutted, head on. Belly slit and viscera removed.
04
Head and gutted, with roe.
06
Headed and gutted, Western cut.
07
Head removed just in front of the collar bone, and viscera removed.
07
Headed and gutted, Eastern cut. Head removed just behind the collar bone, and viscera removed.
08
Headed and gutted, tail removed. Head removed usually in front of collar bone, and viscera and tail removed.
10
Heads. Heads only, regardless where severed from body (ancillary only).
16
Kirimi (Steak) Head removed either in front or behind the collar bone, viscera removed, and tail removed by cuts perpendicular to the spine, resulting in a steak.
11
Mantles, octopus or squid. Flesh after removal of viscera and arms.
36
Milt. (in sacs, or testes) (ancillary only).
34
Minced. Ground flesh.
31
Other retained product. If product is not listed on this table, enter code 97 and write a description with product recovery rate next to it in parentheses.
97
Pectoral girdle. Collar bone and associated bones, cartilage and flesh.
15
Roe. Eggs, either loose or in sacs, or skeins (ancillary only).
14
Salted and split. Head removed, belly slit, viscera removed, fillets cut from head to tail but remaining attached near tail. Product salted.
12
Stomachs. Includes all internal organs (ancillary only)
35
Surimi. Paste from fish flesh and additives
30
Whole fish/meal. Whole fish destined for meal (includes offsite production.) DO NOT RECORD ON PTR.
41
Whole fish/food fish.
01
Whole fish/bait. Processed for bait. Sold
02
Wings. On skates, side fins are cut off next to body.
13
DISCARD/DISPOSITION CODES
Whole fish/donated prohibited species. Number of Pacific salmon or Pacific halibut, otherwise required to be discarded, that is donated to charity under a NMFS-authorized program.
86
Whole fish/onboard bait. Whole fish used as bait on board vessel. Not sold.
92
Whole fish/damaged. Whole fish damaged by observer’s sampling procedures.
93
Whole fish/personal use, consumption. Fish or fish products eaten on board or taken off the vessel for personal use. Not sold or utilized as bait
95
Whole fish, discard, at sea. Whole groundfish and prohibited species discarded by catcher vessels, Catcher/Processors, Motherships, or Vessel Buying Stations delivering to Motherships. DO NOT RECORD ON PTR.
98
Whole fish, discard, infested. Flea-infested fish, parasite-infested fish
88
Whole fish, discard, decomposed. Decomposed or previously discarded fish
89
Whole fish, discard, onshore. Discard after delivery and before processing by Shoreside Processors and Buying Stations delivering to Shoreside Processors and in-plant discard of whole ground-fish and prohibited species during processing. DO NOT RECORD ON PTR.
99
PRODUCT DESIGNATION CODES
Ancillary product means a product, such as meal, heads, internal organs, pectoral girdles, or any other product that may be made from the same fish as the primary product.
A
Primary product means a product, such as fillets, made from each fish, with the highest recovery rate.
P
( printed page 78136)
Reprocessed or rehandled product means a product, such as meal, that results from processing a previously reported product or from rehandling a previously reported product.
R
IFQ CODES Reserved for use with IFQ fish products
Gutted, head off. Belly slit and viscera removed. Pacific halibut only.
05
Gutted, head on. Belly slit and viscera removed. Pacific halibut and sablefish.
04
Whole fish/food fish with ice & slime. Sablefish only.
51
Bled only with ice & slime. Throat or isthmus slit to allow blood to drain. Sablefish only.
53
Gutted, head on, with ice & slime. Belly slit and viscera removed. Pacific halibut and sablefish.
54
Gutted, head off, with ice & slime. Belly slit and viscera removed. Pacific halibut only.
55
Headed and gutted, Western cut, with ice & slime. Sablefish only.
57
Headed and gutted, Eastern cut, with ice & slime. Sablefish only.
58
Table 14a to Part 679.—Port of Landing Codes, Alaska, including CDQ and IFQ Primary Ports
Port Name
NMFS Code
ADF & G Code
CDQ/IFQ Primary Ports for Vessel Clearance (X indicates an authorized IFQ port; see § 679.5(l)(5)(vi))
CDQ/ IFQ
North
Latitude
West
Longitude
Adak
186
ADA
Akutan
101
AKU
X
54°08'05″
165°46'20″
Akutan Bay
102
Alitak
103
ALI
Anchor Point
104
Anchorage
105
ANC
Angoon
106
ANC
Aniak
ANI
Anvik
ANV
Atka
107
ATK
Auka Bay
108
Baranof Warm Springs
109
Beaver Inlet
110
Bethel
Captains Bay
112
Chignik
113
CHG
Chinitna Bay
114
Cordova
115
COR
X
60°33'00″
145°45'00″
Craig
116
CRG
X
55°28'30″
133°09'00″
Dillingham
117
DIL
Douglas
118
Dutch Harbor
119
Dutch Harbor/Unalaska
X
53°53'27″
166°32'05″
Edna Bay
121
Egegik
122
EGE
Ekuk
EKU
Elfin Cove
123
ELF
Emmonak
EMM
False Pass
125
Fairbanks
FBK
Galena
GAL
Glacier Bay
GLB
Glennalen
GLN
Gustavus
127
GUS
Haines
128
HNS
Halibut Cove
130
Hollis
131
Homer
132
HOM
X
59°38'40″
151°33'00″
Hoonah
133
HNH
Hydaburg
128
HNS
Hyder
134
HDR
Ikatan Bay
135
Juneau
136
JNU
Kake
137
KAK
Kaltag
KAL
Kasilof
138
KAS
( printed page 78137)
Kenai
139
KEN
Kenai River
140
Ketchikan
141
KTN
X
55°20'30″
131°38'45″
King Cove
142
KCO
X
55°03'20″
162°19'00″
King Salmon
143
KNG
Kipnuk
144
Klawock
145
KLA
Kotzebue
KOT
La Conner
LAC
Mekoryuk
147
Metlakatla
148
MET
Moser Bay
MOS
Naknek
149
NAK
Nenana
NEN
Nikiski (or Nikishka)
150
NIK
Ninilchik
151
NIN
Nome
152
NOM
Nunivak Island
NUN
Old Harbor
153
OLD
Other/Unknown
499
UNK
Pelican
155
PEL
X
57°57'30″
136°13'30″
Petersburg
156
PBG
X
56°48'10″
132°58'00″
Point Baker
157
Port Alexander
158
PAL
Port Bailey
159
PTB
Port Graham
160
GRM
Port Lions
LIO
Port Moller
MOL
Port Protection
161
Resurrection Bay
163
Sand Point
164
SPT
X
55°20'15″
160°30'00″
Savoonga
165
Seldonia
166
SEL
Seward
167
SEW
X
60°06'30″
149°26'30″
Sitka
168
SIT
X
57°03'
135°20'
Skagway
169
SKG
Soldotna
SOL
St. George
170
STG
St. Lawrence
171
St. Mary
STM
St. Paul
172
STP
X
57°07'20″
170°16'30″
Tee Hrbor
173
Tenakee Spring
174
TEN
Thorne Bay
175
Togiak
176
TOG
Toksook Bay
177
Tununak
178
Ugadaga Bay
179
Ugashik
UGA
Unalakleet
UNA
Unalaska
180
Valdez
181
VAL
Wasilla
WAS
Whittier
183
WHT
Wrangell
184
WRN
Yakutat
185
YAK
59°33'
139°44'
( printed page 78138)
Table 14b to Part 679.—Port of Landing Codes: California, Oregon, Canada including CDQ and IFQ Primary Ports
Port Name
NMFS Code
ADF&G Code
CDQ/IFQ Primary Ports for Vessel Clearance (X indicates an authorized IFQ port; see § 679.5(l)(5)(vi))
CDQ/ IFQ
North
Latitude
West
Longitude
CALIFORNIA
Eureka
500
EUR
Fort Bragg
501
Other
599
OREGON
Astoria
600
AST
Lincoln City
602
Newport
603
NPT
Olympia
OLY
Portland
POR
Warrenton
604
Other
699
CANADA
Port Edward
800
Port Hardy
801
Prince Rupert
802
PRU
Other
899
Table 14c to part 679.—Washington Port of Landing Codes including CDQ and IFQ Primary Ports
Port Name
NMFS Code
AD&G Code
CDQ/IFQ Primary Ports for Vessel Clearance (X indicates an authorized IFQ port; see § 679.5(l)(5)(vi))
CDQ/IFQ
North
Latitude
West
Longitude
Anacortes
700
ANA
Belluvue
701
Bellingham
702
X
48°45'04″
122°30'02″
Blaine
BLA
Edmond
703
Everett
704
Fox Island
706
Ilwaco
707
La Conner
708
LAC
Mercer Island
709
Nagai Island
710
Port Orchard
712
Port Townsend
713
Rainier
714
Seattle
715
SEA
Tacoma
TAC
Other
799
Table 15 to Part 679.—Gear codes, descriptions, and use (X indicates where this code is used)
Name of Gear
NMFS Logbooks and Forms
Electronic WPR & Check-in/out Code
Gear Code,
Numeric
Use Numeric Code to Complete the Following:
Shoreside Electronic Logbook
IFQ Terminal and Forms
COAR Re port
Diving
OTH
11
X
X
Dredge
OTH
01
X
X
Dredge, hydro/mechanical
OTH
23
X
X
Fish wheel
OTH
08
X
Gillnet, drift
OTH
03
X
X
Gillnet, herring
OTH
34
X
X
Gillnet, set
OTH
04
X
X
Gillnet, sunken
OTH
41
X
X
Hand line/jig/troll
(1)
05
X
IFQ name: hand troll
X
Handpicked
OTH
12
X
X
Hatchery
n/a
77
X
X
( printed page 78139)
Hook-and-line
X
HAL
61
X
X
X
Jig, mechanical
(1)
26
X
X
Jig/Troll
X
JIG
(1)
(1)
Net, dip
OTH
13
X
X
Net, ring
OTH
10
X
X
Other/specify
X
OTH
99
X
X
Pot
X
POT
91
X
X
X
Pound
X
OTH
21
X
X
Seine, purse
OTH
01
X
X
Seine, beach
OTH
02
X
X
Shovel
OTH
18
X
X
Trap
OTH
90
X
X
Troll, dinglebar
OTH
25
X
IFQ name: dinglebar troll
X
Troll, power gurdy
(1)
15
X
X
Trawl, beam
(2)
17
X
X
Trawl, double otter
(2)
27
X
X
Trawl, nonpelagic/bottom
X
NPT
07
X
X
Trawl, pelagic/midwater
X
PTR
47
X
X
Weir
OTH
14
X
X
(1)
Federal Authorized Gear JIG/TROLL. No numeric code is available because both jig and troll have a separate code number
(2)
For logbooks, forms, electronic WPR, electroniccheck-in/out reports: all trawl gear must be reported as either nonpelagic or pelagic trawl
Table 16 to Part 679.—Area codes and descriptions for use with State of Alaska ADF&G Commercial Operator’s Annual Report (COAR)
COAR: Name (Code)
Species
ADF&G
fisheries
management
areas
Area description in ADF&G
regulations
Alaska Peninsula:
South Peninsula (MS)
North Peninsula (MN)
King Crab:
AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands Salmon
Herring
Table 17 to Part 679.—Process Codes for use with State of Alaska Commercial Operator’s Annual Report (COAR)
Codes
Process Codes and Description
Prefix Codes
1-Fresh
2-Frozen
3-Salted/brined
4-Smoked
5-Canned
6-Cooked
7-Live
8-Dry
9-Pickled
11-Minced
Suffix Codes
0-General
1-Canned Conv.
2-Canned smoked
8-Vacuum packed
1-Individual quick frozen (IFQ) pack
( printed page 78141)
S-Shatter pack
B-Block
Table 18 to Part 679.—Required Buying and Production Forms for use with State of Alaska Commercial Operator’s Annual Report (COAR)
Fishery
Required Form Number and Name
Salmon
Salmon Buying:
(A)(1) Seine gear
(A)(1) Gillnet gear
(A)(2) Troll gear Hatchery
(A)(3) Miscellaneous gear
King Salmon Production:
(B)(1) Production
(B)(1) Canned Production
Sockeye Salmon Production:
(B)(2) Production
(B)(2) Canned Production
Coho Salmon Production:
(B)(3) Production
(B)(3) Canned Production
Pink Salmon Production:
(B)(4) Production
(B)(4) Canned Production
Chum Salmon Production:
(B)(5) Production
(B)(5) Canned Production
Salmon Roe & Byproduct Production:
(B)(6) Roe
(B)(6) Byproduct Production
Herring
Herring Buying:
(C)(1) Seine gear
(C)(1) Gillnet gear
(C)(2) Gillnet gear (contd)
(C)(2) Pound gear
(C)(2) Hand-pick gear
Herring Production:
(D) Production
(D) Byproduct Production
Crab
(E)
Crab Buying:
(F) Crab Production
Shrimp/Miscellaneous shellfish
(G)
Shrimp/Misc.Shellfish Buying:
Trawl gear
Pot gear
Diving/picked gear
Other gear (specify)
(H) Shrimp/Misc. Shellfish Production
Groundfish
(I)(1) (I)(2) Groundfish Buying
(J)(1) (J)(2) Groundfish Production
Halibut
(K) Halibut Buying & Production
Custom Production
Custom Production:
(L)(1) Associated Processors
Custom Fresh/Frozen
Misc. production
Custom Canned Production
(L)(2) (additional sheet)
PRICES NOT FINAL
(M)(1) Fish Buying Retro Payments
(M)(2) Post-season Adjustments
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
65 FR 78131
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revisions to Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements; Alaska Commercial Operator’s Annual Report,” thefederalregister.org (December 14, 2000), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/00-31916/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-revisions-to-recordkeeping-and-reporting-requirements-alaska-commerc.
50 CFR part 679
16 U.S.C. 773