Regulations in this part were developed by the Council under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act). Along with part 600 of this chapter, these regulations implement the following:

(a) Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. (1) Regulations in this part govern commercial fishing for groundfish in the GOA by vessels of the United States (see subparts A, B, D, and E of this part).

(2) The following State of Alaska regulations are not preempted by this part for vessels regulated under this part fishing for demersal shelf rockfish in the Southeast Outside District, and which are registered under the laws of the State of Alaska: 5 AAC 28.111, fishing seasons; 5 AAC 28.130, gear; 5 AAC 28.160, harvest guidelines; 5 AAC 28.190, harvest of bait by commercial permit holders.

(b) Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. Regulations in this part govern commercial fishing for groundfish in the BSAI by vessels of the United States (see subparts A, B, C, D, and E of this part).

(c) [Reserved]

(d) IFQ Program for sablefish and halibut. The IFQ management measures for the commercial fisheries that use fixed gear to harvest sablefish and halibut (see subparts A, B, D, and E of this part).

(1) Sablefish. (i) Regulations in this part govern commercial fishing for sablefish by vessels of the United States:

(A) Using fixed gear within that portion of the GOA and the BSAI over which the United States exercises exclusive fishery management authority; and

(B) Using fixed gear in waters of the State of Alaska adjacent to the BSAI and the GOA, provided that aboard such vessels are persons who currently hold sablefish quota shares, sablefish IFQ permits, or sablefish IFQ hired master permits.

(ii) Regulations in this part do not govern commercial fishing for sablefish in Prince William Sound or under a State of Alaska limited entry program.

(2) Halibut. Regulations in this part govern commercial fishing for halibut by vessels of the United States using fixed gear, as that term is defined in 50 CFR 679.2, in and off of Alaska.

(e) Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. Regulations in this part govern the Western Alaska CDQ Program (see subparts A, B, C, D, and E of this part). The purpose of the program is specified in 16 U.S.C. 1855(i)(1)(A).

(f) Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program. Regulations in this part govern elements of the Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program.

(g) Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs. Regulations in this part govern commercial fishing for king and Tanner crab in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area by vessels of the United States, and supersede State of Alaska regulations applicable to the commercial king and Tanner crab fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutians Islands Area EEZ that are determined to be inconsistent with the FMP (see subpart A, B, and E of this part). Additional regulations governing commercial fishing for, and processing of, king and Tanner crab managed pursuant to section 313(j) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Crab Rationalization Program are codified at 50 CFR part 680.

(h) Fishery Management Plan for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska. (1) Regulations in this part govern commercial fishing for scallops in the Federal waters off Alaska by vessels of the United States (see subpart A of this part).

(2) State of Alaska laws and regulations that are consistent with the FMP and with the regulations in this part apply to vessels of the United States that are fishing for scallops in the Federal waters off Alaska.

(i) Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ Off Alaska (Salmon FMP)—(1) Regulations in this part govern commercial fishing for salmon by fishing vessels of the United States in the West Area and commercial and recreational fishing for salmon in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area of the Salmon Management Area.

(2) State of Alaska laws and regulations that are consistent with the Salmon FMP and with the regulations in this part apply to vessels of the United States that are commercial and sport fishing for salmon in the East Area of the Salmon Management Area.

(j) License Limitation Program (LLP). (1) Regulations in this part implement the LLP for the commercial groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska and the LLP for the commercial crab fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutians Islands Area.

(2) Regulations in this part govern the commercial fishing for groundfish under the LLP by vessels of the United States using authorized gear within the GOA and the Bering Sea and Aleutians Islands Area and the commercial fishing for crab species under the LLP by vessels of the United States using authorized gear within the Bering Sea and Aleutians Islands Area.

(k) American Fisheries Act and AI directed pollock fishery measures. Regulations in this part were developed by NMFS and the Council under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the American Fisheries Act (AFA), and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004 to govern commercial fishing for BSAI pollock according to the requirements of the AFA and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004. This part also governs payment and collection of the loan, under the AFA, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, made to all those persons who harvest pollock from the directed fishing allowance allocated to the inshore component under section 206(b)(1) of the AFA.

(l) Fishery Management Plan for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area. Regulations in this part govern commercial fishing for Arctic fish in the Arctic Management Area by vessels of the United States (see this subpart and subpart B of this part).

In addition to the definitions in the Magnuson-Stevens Act and in part 600 of this chapter, the terms used in this part have the following meanings:

ABC reserve means, for purposes of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the BSAI, an amount, not to exceed the ABC surplus, that may be reduced for social, economic, or ecological considerations according to § 679.20(b)(1)(iii).

ABC surplus means, for purposes of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the BSAI, the difference between each species' annual ABC and TAC.

Active/inactive periods means for longline or pot gear catcher vessel, see § 679.5(c)(3)(iv)(A)(1); for longline or pot gear catcher/processor, see § 679.5(c)(3)(iv)(B)(1); for trawl gear catcher vessel, see § 679.5(c)(4)(iv)(A)(1); for trawl gear catcher/processor, see § 679.5(c)(4)(iv)(B)(1); for shoreside processor or SFP, see § 679.5(c)(5)(ii); for mothership, see § 679.5(c)(6)(iv).

Adequate evidence, for purposes of subpart E of this part, means information sufficient to support the reasonable belief that a particular act or omission has occurred.

ADF&G means the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

ADF&G fish ticket number means a nine-digit number designated by one alphabet letter (i.e., G = groundfish), two numbers that identify the year (i.e., 98), followed by six numbers.

ADF&G processor code means State of Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) Intent to operate processor license number (example: F12345).

AFA catcher/processor means:

(1) For purposes of BS pollock and all BSAI groundfish fisheries other than Atka mackerel, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, rock sole, and yellowfin sole, a catcher/processor that is permitted to harvest BS pollock under § 679.4(l)(2).

(2) For purposes of BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, rock sole, and yellowfin sole, a catcher/processor that is permitted to harvest BS pollock and that is listed under § 679.4(l)(2)(i).

AFA catcher vessel means a catcher vessel permitted to harvest BS pollock under § 679.4(l)(3).

AFA crab processing facility means a processing plant, catcher/processor, mothership, floating processor or any other operation that processes any FMP species of BSAI crab, and that is affiliated with an AFA entity that processes pollock harvested by a catcher vessel cooperative operating in the inshore or mothership sectors of the BS pollock fishery.

AFA entity means a group of affiliated individuals, corporations, or other business concerns, except for a CDQ group, that harvests or processes pollock in the BS directed pollock fishery.

AFA fee liability means the amount of money for Bering Sea pollock cost recovery, in U.S. dollars, owed to NMFS by an AFA cooperative or AFA sector as determined by multiplying the appropriate AFA standard ex-vessel value of landed Bering Sea pollock by the appropriate AFA fee percentage.

AFA fee percentage means that positive number no greater than 3 percent (0.03) determined by the Regional Administrator and established for use in calculating the AFA fee liability for an AFA cooperative or AFA sector.

AFA inshore processor means a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor permitted to process BS pollock under § 679.4(l)(5).

AFA mothership means a mothership permitted to process BS pollock under § 679.4(l)(4).

AFA pollock equivalent pounds means the weight recorded in pounds for landed AFA pollock and calculated as round weight.

AFA rebuilt vessel means an AFA vessel that was rebuilt after October 15, 2010.

AFA replacement vessel means a vessel that NMFS designated on an AFA permit pursuant to § 679.4(l)(7) after October 15, 2010.

AFA standard ex-vessel value means the total U.S. dollar amount of landed Bering Sea pollock as calculated by multiplying the number of landed pounds of Bering Sea pollock by the appropriate AFA standard price determined by the Regional Administrator.

AFA standard price means the price, in U.S. dollars, for landed Bering Sea pollock, in AFA pollock equivalent pounds, as determined by the Regional Administrator.

AFA vessel means a vessel that is designated on an AFA catcher vessel permit, an AFA catcher/processor permit, or an AFA mothership permit, and is thereby authorized to participate in the Bering Sea directed pollock fishery.

Affiliates, for purposes of subparts E and H to this part, means business concerns, organizations, or individuals are affiliates of each other if, directly or indirectly, either one controls or has the power to control the other, or a third party controls or has the power to control both. Indicators of control include, but are not limited to: Interlocking management or ownership; identity of interests among family members; shared facilities and equipment; common use of employees; or a business entity organized following the decertification, suspension, or proposed decertification of an observer provider that has the same or similar management, ownership, or principal employees as the observer provider that was decertified, suspended, or proposed for decertification.

Affiliation for the purpose of defining AFA, Rockfish Program, and PCTC Program means a relationship between two or more individuals, corporations, or other business concerns, except CDQ groups, in which one concern directly or indirectly owns a 10 percent or greater interest in another, exerts control over another, or has the power to exert control over another; or a third individual, corporation, or other business concern directly or indirectly owns a 10 percent or greater interest in both, exerts control over both, or has the power to exert control over both.

(1) What is 10 percent or greater ownership? For the purpose of determining affiliation, 10 percent or greater ownership is deemed to exist if an individual, corporation, or other business concern directly or indirectly owns 10 percent or greater interest in a second corporation or other business concern.

(2) What is an indirect interest? An indirect interest is one that passes through one or more intermediate entities. An entity's percentage of indirect interest in a second entity is equal to the entity's percentage of direct interest in an intermediate entity multiplied by the intermediate entity's direct or indirect interest in the second entity.

(3) What is control? For the purpose of determining affiliation, control is deemed to exist if an individual, corporation, or other business concern has any of the following relationships or forms of control over another individual, corporation, or other business concern:

(i) Controls 10 percent or more of the voting stock of another corporation or business concern;

(ii) Has the authority to direct the business of the entity that owns the fishing vessel or processor. The authority to direct the business of the entity does not include the right to simply participate in the direction of the business activities of an entity that owns a fishing vessel or processor;

(iii) Has the authority in the ordinary course of business to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, any general partner or any person serving in a management capacity of an entity that holds 10 percent or greater interest in a fishing vessel or processor. Standard rights of minority shareholders to restrict the actions of the entity are not included in this definition of control provided they are unrelated to day-to-day business activities. These rights include provisions to require the consent of the minority shareholder to sell all or substantially all the assets, to enter into a different business, to contract with the major investors or their affiliates, or to guarantee the obligations of majority investors or their affiliates;

(iv) Has the authority to direct the transfer, operation, or manning of a fishing vessel or processor. The authority to direct the transfer, operation, or manning of a vessel or processor does not include the right to simply participate in such activities;

(v) Has the authority to control the management of or to be a controlling factor in the entity that holds 10 percent or greater interest in a fishing vessel or processor;

(vi) Absorbs all the costs and normal business risks associated with ownership and operation of a fishing vessel or processor;

(vii) Has the responsibility to procure insurance on the fishing vessel or processor, or assumes any liability in excess of insurance coverage;

(viii) Has the authority to control a fishery cooperative through 10 percent or greater ownership or control over a majority of the vessels in the cooperative, has the authority to appoint, remove, or limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer of the cooperative, or has the authority to appoint, remove, or limit the actions of a majority of the board of directors of the cooperative. In such instance, all members of the cooperative are considered affiliates of the individual, corporation, or other business concern that exerts control over the cooperative; or

(ix) Has the ability through any other means whatsoever to control the entity that holds 10 percent or greater interest in a fishing vessel or processor.

Agent (1) For purposes of permits issued under § 679.4, means a person appointed and residing within the United States who may apply for permits and may otherwise act on behalf of the owner, operator, or manager of a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, buying station, tender vessel, support vessel, or on behalf of the IFQ permit holders, IFQ registered buyers, or CDQ halibut permit holders.

(2) For purposes of groundfish product distribution under § 679.5(g), means a buyer, distributor, or shipper but not a buying station or tender vessel, who may receive and distribute groundfish on behalf of the owner, operator, and manager of a catcher/processor, mothership, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor.

(3) For purposes of IFQ recordkeeping and reporting under § 679.5(l), means a person who on behalf of the Registered Buyer may submit IFQ reports.

Agent for service of process means, for purposes of § 679.21(f), a person appointed by the members of an AFA inshore cooperative, a CDQ group, or an entity representing the AFA catcher/processor sector or the AFA mothership sector, who is authorized to receive and respond to any legal process issued in the United States with respect to all owners and operators of vessels that are members of the inshore cooperative, the entity representing the catcher/processor sector, the entity representing the mothership sector, or the entity representing the cooperative or a CDQ group and owners of all vessels directed fishing for pollock CDQ on behalf of that CDQ group.

AI directed pollock fishery means directed fishing for pollock in the AI under the allocation to the Aleut Corporation authorized at § 679.20(a)(5)(iii).

Alaska local time (A.l.t.) means the time in the Alaska time zone.

Alaska Seamount Habitat Protection Areas means management areas established for the protection of seamount habitat areas of particular concern in the BSAI and GOA. See Table 22 to this part.

Alaska State waters means waters adjacent to the State of Alaska and shoreward of the EEZ off Alaska.

Aleut Corporation means the Aleut Corporation incorporated pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).

Aleut Corporation entity means a harvester or processor selected by the Aleut Corporation and approved by NMFS to harvest or process pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery.

Aleutian Islands Coral Habitat Protection Areas means management areas established for the protection of certain coral garden areas in reporting areas of the Aleutian Islands subarea and adjacent State waters. See Table 23 to this part.

Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation Area means a management area established for the protection of fish habitat in reporting areas of the Aleutian Islands subarea and adjacent State waters. See Table 24 to this part.

Aleutian Islands pollock equivalent pounds means the weight recorded in pounds for landed Aleutian Islands pollock and calculated as round weight.

Aleutian Islands pollock fee liability means the amount of money for Aleutian Islands directed pollock cost recovery, in U.S. dollars, owed to NMFS by the Aleut Corporation as determined by multiplying the appropriate standard ex-vessel value of its landed Aleutian Islands pollock by the appropriate Aleutian Islands pollock fee percentage.

Aleutian Islands pollock fee percentage means that positive number no greater than 3 percent (0.03) determined by the Regional Administrator and established for use in calculating the Aleutian Islands pollock fee liability for the Aleut Corporation.

Aleutian Islands pollock standard ex-vessel value means the total U.S. dollar amount of landed Aleutian Islands pollock as calculated by multiplying the number of landed pounds of Aleutian Islands pollock by the appropriate Aleutian Islands pollock standard price determined by the Regional Administrator.

Aleutian Islands pollock standard price means the price, in U.S. dollars, for landed Aleutian Islands pollock, in Aleutian Islands pollock equivalent pounds, as determined by the Regional Administrator.

Aleutian Islands shoreplant means a processing facility that is physically located on land west of 170° W. longitude within the State of Alaska.

Aleutian Islands Subarea (AI) of the BSAI means that portion of the EEZ contained in Statistical Areas 541, 542, and 543 (see Figure 1 to this part).

American Fisheries Act (AFA) means Title II—Fisheries Subtitles I and II, as cited within the Omnibus Appropriations Bill FY99 (Pub. L. 105-277).

Amendment 80 ABC reserve means the amount of the flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole ABC reserve that remains after designating the amount assigned to the CDQ ABC reserve and that is allocated among Amendment 80 cooperatives as calculated annually as described at § 679.91(i)(2).

Amendment 80 cooperative means a group of Amendment 80 QS holders who have chosen to fish cooperatively for Amendment 80 species under the requirements of subpart H to this part and who have applied for and received a CQ permit issued by NMFS to catch a quantity of fish expressed as a portion of the ITAC and crab and halibut PSC limits.

Amendment 80 equivalent pounds means the weight recorded in pounds for landed Amendment 80 species CQ and calculated as round weight.

Amendment 80 fee liability means the amount of money for Amendment 80 cost recovery, in U.S. dollars, owed to NMFS by an Amendment 80 CQ permit holder as determined by multiplying the appropriate standard ex-vessel value of landed Amendment 80 species CQ by the appropriate Amendment 80 fee percentage.

Amendment 80 fee percentage means that positive number no greater than 3 percent (0.03) determined by the Regional Administrator and established for use in calculating the Amendment 80 fee liability for an Amendment 80 CQ permit holder.

Amendment 80 fishery means an Amendment 80 cooperative or the Amendment 80 limited access fishery.

Amendment 80 initial QS pool means the sum of Amendment 80 QS units established for an Amendment 80 species in a management area based on the Amendment 80 official record and used for the initial allocation of Amendment 80 QS units and use cap calculations as described in § 679.92(a).

Amendment 80 legal landing means the total catch of Amendment 80 species in a management area in the BSAI by an Amendment 80 vessel that:

(1) Was made in compliance with state and Federal regulations in effect at that time; and

(2) Is recorded on a Weekly Production Report from January 20, 1998, through December 31, 2004; and

(3) Amendment 80 species caught while test fishing, fishing under an experimental, exploratory, or scientific activity permit, or fishing under the Western Alaska CDQ Program are not considered Amendment 80 legal landings.

Amendment 80 limited access fishery means the fishery conducted in the BSAI by persons with Amendment 80 QS permits, Amendment 80 LLP licenses, or Amendment 80 vessels assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery.

Amendment 80 LLP license means:

(1) Any LLP license that is endorsed for groundfish in the Bering Sea subarea or Aleutian Islands subarea with a catcher/processor designation and that designates an Amendment 80 vessel in an approved application for Amendment 80 QS;

(2) Any LLP license that designates an Amendment 80 vessel at any time after the effective date of the Amendment 80 Program; and

(3) Any Amendment 80 LLP/QS license.

Amendment 80 LLP/QS license means an LLP license originally assigned to an originally qualifying Amendment 80 vessel with an Amendment 80 QS permit assigned to that LLP license.

Amendment 80 mackerel QS means Atka mackerel QS derived from Amendment 80 legal landings assigned to an Amendment 80 mackerel vessel.

Amendment 80 mackerel vessel means an Amendment 80 vessel that is not an Amendment 80 non-mackerel vessel.

Amendment 80 non-mackerel QS means Atka mackerel QS derived from Amendment 80 legal landings assigned to an Amendment 80 non-mackerel vessel.

Amendment 80 non-mackerel vessel means an Amendment 80 vessel that is less than 200 feet in length overall and that has been used to catch less than 2.0 percent of the total Amendment 80 legal landings of BSAI Atka mackerel.

Amendment 80 official record means information used by NMFS to determine eligibility to participate in the Amendment 80 Program and to assign specific catch privileges to Amendment 80 QS holders.

Amendment 80 Program means the Program implemented under subpart H of this part to manage Amendment 80 species fisheries by limiting participation in these fisheries to eligible participants.

Amendment 80 PSC means halibut and crab PSC as described in Table 35 to this part that are allocated to the Amendment 80 sector.

Amendment 80 QS holder means a person who is issued an Amendment 80 QS permit by NMFS.

Amendment 80 QS permit means a permit issued by NMFS that designates the amount of Amendment 80 QS units derived from the Amendment 80 legal landings assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel for each Amendment 80 species in a management area.

Amendment 80 QS pool means the sum of Amendment 80 QS units established for each Amendment 80 species in a management area based on the Amendment 80 official record.

Amendment 80 QS unit means a measure of the Amendment 80 QS pool based on Amendment 80 legal landings.

Amendment 80 replacement vessel means a vessel approved by NMFS in accordance with § 679.4(o)(4).

Amendment 80 sector means:

(1) Those Amendment 80 QS holders who own Amendment 80 vessels and hold Amendment 80 LLP licenses; or

(2) Those persons who hold Amendment 80 LLP/QS licenses.

Amendment 80 species means the following species in the following regulatory areas:

(1) BSAI Atka mackerel;

(2) Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch;

(3) BSAI flathead sole;

(4) BSAI Pacific cod;

(5) BSAI rock sole; and

(6) BSAI yellowfin sole.

Amendment 80 standard ex-vessel value means the total U.S. dollar amount of landed Amendment 80 species CQ as calculated by multiplying the number of landed Amendment 80 equivalent pounds by the appropriate Amendment 80 standard price determined by the Regional Administrator.

Amendment 80 standard price means the price, in U.S. dollars, for landed Amendment 80 species, in Amendment 80 equivalent pounds, as determined by the Regional Administrator.

Amendment 80 vessel means any vessel that:

(1) Is listed in Column A of Table 31 to this part with the corresponding USCG Documentation Number listed in Column B of Table 31 to this part; or

(2) Is designated on an Amendment 80 QS permit, Amendment 80 LLP/QS license, or Amendment 80 LLP license and is approved by NMFS in accordance with § 679.4(o)(4) as an Amendment 80 replacement vessel.

Ancillary product (see Table 1 to this part).

Appointed agent for service of process means an agent appointed by the members of a fishery cooperative to serve on behalf of the cooperative. The appointed agent for service of process may be the owner of a vessel listed as a member of the cooperative or a registered agent.

Arctic fish means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals, birds, Pacific salmon, and Pacific halibut.

Arctic Management Area, for purposes of regulations governing the Arctic Management Area fisheries, means all marine waters in the U.S. EEZ of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas from 3 nautical miles off the coast of Alaska or its baseline to 200 nautical miles offshore, north of Bering Strait (from Cape Prince of Wales to Cape Dezhneva) and westward to the 1990 U.S./Russia maritime boundary line and eastward to the U.S./Canada maritime boundary (see Figure 24 to this part).

Area endorsement means (for purposes of groundfish LLP) a designation on a license that authorizes a license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the designated area, subarea, or district. Area endorsements, which are inclusive of, but not necessarily the same as, management areas, subareas, or districts defined in this part, are as follows:

(1) Aleutian Islands area endorsement. Authorizes the license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the Aleutian Islands Subarea;

(2) Bering Sea area endorsement. Authorizes the license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the Bering Sea Subarea;

(3) Central Gulf area endorsement. Authorizes the license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the Central GOA regulatory area and the West Yakutat District;

(4) Southeast Outside area endorsement. Authorizes the license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the Southeast Outside District; and

(5) Western Gulf area endorsement. Authorizes the license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the Western GOA regulatory area.

Area/species endorsement means (for purposes of LLP) a designation on a license that authorizes a license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for the designated crab species in Federal waters in the designated area (see Figures 16 and 17 to this part). Area/species endorsements for crab species licenses are as follows:

(1) Aleutian Islands brown king in waters with an eastern boundary the longitude of Scotch Cap Light (164°44′ W. long.), a western boundary of the U.S.-Russian Convention Line of 1867, and a northern boundary of a line from the latitude of Cape Sarichef (54°36′ N. lat.) westward to 171° W. long., then north to 55°30′ N. lat., then west to the U.S.-Russian Convention line of 1867.

(2) Aleutian Islands red king in waters with an eastern boundary the longitude of Scotch Cap Light (164°44′ W. long.), a western boundary of the U.S.-Russian Convention Line of 1867, and a northern boundary of a line from the latitude of Cape Sarichef (54°36′ N. lat.) westward to 171° W. long., then north to 55°30′ N. lat., and then west to the U.S.-Russian Convention line of 1867.

(3) Bristol Bay red king in waters with a northern boundary of 58°39′ N. lat., a southern boundary of 54°36′ N. lat., and a western boundary of 168° W. long. and including all waters of Bristol Bay.

(4) Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area C. opilio and C. bairdi in Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea waters east of the U.S.-Russian Convention Line of 1867, excluding all Pacific Ocean waters east of a boundary line extending south (180°) from Scotch Cap Light.

(5) Norton Sound red king and Norton Sound blue king in waters with a western boundary of 168° W. long., a southern boundary of 61°49′ N. lat., and a northern boundary of 65°36′ N. lat.

(6) Pribilof red king and Pribilof blue king in waters with a northern boundary of 58°39′ N. lat., an eastern boundary of 168° W. long., a southern boundary line from 54°36′ N. lat., 168° W. long., to 54°36′ N. lat., 171° W. long., to 55°30′ N. lat., 171° W. long., to 55°30′ N. lat., 173°30′ E. lat., and then westward to the U.S.-Russian Convention line of 1867.

(7) St. Matthew blue king in waters with a northern boundary of 61°49′ N. lat., a southern boundary of 58°39′ N. lat., and a western boundary of the U.S.-Russian Convention line of 1867.

Associated processor means:

(1) Relationship with a buying station or tender vessel. A mothership or catcher/processor issued an FFP, or a shoreside processor or SFP issued an FPP, with a contractual relationship with a buying station or tender vessel to conduct groundfish buying station or tender vessel activities for that processor.

(2) Relationship with a custom processor. A mothership or catcher/processor issued an FFP or a shoreside processor or SFP issued an FPP, with a contractual relationship with a custom processor to process groundfish on its behalf.

At-sea operation means, for purposes of eLandings, a catcher/processor or mothership that is receiving and/or processing fish in State waters and/or in waters of the EEZ off the coast of Alaska.

Authorized distributor means a tax-exempt organization authorized by NMFS to coordinate the processing, storage, transportation, and distribution of salmon taken as incidental catch in the groundfish trawl fisheries to tax-exempt hunger relief agencies, food bank networks, and food bank distributors (see § 679.26, Prohibited Species Donation Program).

Authorized fishing gear (see also § 679.24 for gear limitations and Table 15 to this part for gear codes) means trawl gear, fixed gear, longline gear, pot gear, and nontrawl gear as follows:

(1) Bottom contact gear means nonpelagic trawl, dredge, dinglebar, pot, or hook-and-line gear.

(2) Dinglebar gear means one or more lines retrieved and set with a troll gurdy or hand troll gurdy, with a terminally attached weight from which one or more leaders with one or more lures or baited hooks are pulled through the water while a vessel is making way.

(3) Dredge means a dredge-like device designed specifically for and capable of taking scallops by being towed along the ocean floor.

(4) Fixed gear means:

(i) For sablefish harvested from any GOA reporting area, all longline gear, longline pot gear, and, for purposes of determining initial IFQ allocation, all pot gear used to make a legal landing.

(ii) For sablefish harvested from any BSAI reporting area, all hook-and-line gear, jig gear, and all pot gear.

(iii) For halibut harvested from any IFQ regulatory area, all fishing gear composed of lines with hooks attached, including one or more stationary, buoyed, and anchored lines with hooks attached.

(iv) For halibut harvested from any GOA reporting area, all longline pot gear, if the vessel operator is fishing for IFQ sablefish in accordance with § 679.42(l).

(v) For halibut harvested from any IFQ regulatory area in the BSAI, all pot gear, if the vessel operator is fishing for IFQ or CDQ halibut in accordance with § 679.42.

(5) Hand troll gear means one or more lines, with lures or hooks attached, drawn through the water behind a moving vessel, and retrieved by hand or hand-cranked reels or gurdies and not by any electrically, hydraulically, or mechanically powered device or attachment.

(6) Handline gear means a hand-held line, with one or more hooks attached, that may only be operated manually.

(7) Hook-and-line gear means a stationary, buoyed, and anchored line with hooks attached, or the taking of fish by means of such a device.

(8) Jig gear means a single, non-buoyed, non-anchored line with hooks attached, or the taking of fish by means of such a device.

(9) Longline gear means hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline or the taking of fish by means of such a device.

(10) Longline pot means a stationary, buoyed, and anchored line with two or more pots attached, or the taking of fish by means of such a device.

(11) Mobile bottom contact gear means nonpelagic trawl, dredge, or dinglebar gear.

(12) Nonpelagic trawl means a trawl other than a pelagic trawl.

(13) Nontrawl gear means pot and longline gear.

(14) Pelagic trawl gear means a trawl that:

(i) Has no discs, bobbins, or rollers;

(ii) Has no chafe protection gear attached to the footrope or fishing line;

(iii) Except for the small mesh allowed under paragraph (14)(ix) of this definition:

(A) Has no mesh tied to the fishing line, headrope, and breast lines with less than 20 inches (50.8 cm) between knots and has no stretched mesh size of less than 60 inches (152.4 cm) aft from all points on the fishing line, headrope, and breast lines and extending passed the fishing circle for a distance equal to or greater than one half the vessel's LOA; or

(B) Has no parallel lines spaced closer than 64 inches (162.6 cm) from all points on the fishing line, headrope, and breast lines and extending aft to a section of mesh, with no stretched mesh size of less than 60 inches (152.4 cm) extending aft for a distance equal to or greater than one-half the vessel's LOA;

(iv) Has no stretched mesh size less than 15 inches (38.1 cm) aft of the mesh described in paragraph (14)(iii) of this definition for a distance equal to or greater than one-half the vessel's LOA;

(v) Contains no configuration intended to reduce the stretched mesh sizes described in paragraphs (14)(iii) and (iv) of this definition;

(vi) Has no flotation other than floats capable of providing up to 200 lb (90.7 kg) of buoyancy to accommodate the use of a net-sounder device;

(vii) Has no more than one fishing line and one footrope for a total of no more than two weighted lines on the bottom of the trawl between the wing tip and the fishing circle;

(viii) Has no metallic component except for connectors (e.g., hammerlocks or swivels) or a net-sounder device aft of the fishing circle and forward of any mesh greater than 5.5 inches (14.0 cm) stretched measure;

(ix) May have small mesh within 32 ft (9.8 m) of the center of the headrope as needed for attaching instrumentation (e.g., net-sounder device); and

(x) May have weights on the wing tips.

(15) Pot gear means a portable structure, rigid or collapsible, that is designed and constructed to capture and retain fish alive in the water. This gear type includes longline pot and pot-and-line gear. Each groundfish pot must comply with the following:

(i) Biodegradable panel. Each pot used to fish for groundfish must be equipped with a biodegradable panel at least 18 inches (45.72 cm) in length that is parallel to, and within 6 inches (15.24 cm) of, the bottom of the pot, and that is sewn up with untreated cotton thread of no larger size than No. 30.

(A) Collapsible pot exception. A collapsible pot (e.g., slinky pot) used to fish for halibut IFQ or CDQ, or sablefish IFQ or CDQ, in accordance with paragraph (4) of this definition, is exempt from the biodegradable panel placement requirements described in paragraph (15)(i) of this definition. Instead, a collapsible pot must have either a biodegradable panel placed anywhere on the mesh of the collapsible pot, which is at least 18 inches (45.72 cm) in length and is made from untreated cotton thread of no larger size than No. 30, or one door on the pot must measure at least 18 inches (45.72 cm) in diameter and be wrapped with untreated cotton thread of no larger size than No. 30.

(B) [Reserved]

(ii) Tunnel opening. Each pot used to fish for groundfish must be equipped with rigid tunnel openings that are no wider than 9 inches (22.86 cm) and no higher than 9 inches (22.86 cm), or soft tunnel openings with dimensions that are no wider than 9 inches (22.86 cm).

(iii) Halibut retention exception. If halibut retention is required when harvesting halibut from any IFQ regulatory area in the BSAI or GOA, the requirements to comply with a tunnel opening for pots when fishing for IFQ or CDQ halibut or IFQ or CDQ sablefish in the BSAI in accordance with § 679.42(m), or for IFQ sablefish in the GOA in accordance with § 679.42(l), do not apply.

(16) Pot-and-line gear means a stationary, buoyed line with a single pot attached, or the taking of fish by means of such a device.

(17) Power troll gear means one or more lines, with hooks or lures attached, drawn through the water behind a moving vessel, and originating from a power gurdy or power-driven spool fastened to the vessel, the extension or retraction of which is directly to the gurdy or spool.

(18) Trawl gear means a cone or funnel-shaped net that is towed through the water by one or more vessels. For purposes of this part, this definition includes, but is not limited to, beam trawls (trawl with a fixed net opening utilizing a wood or metal beam), otter trawls (trawl with a net opening controlled by devices commonly called otter doors), and pair trawls (trawl dragged between two vessels) and is further described as pelagic or nonpelagic trawl.

(19) Troll gear means one or more lines with hooks or lures attached drawn through the water behind a moving vessel. This gear type includes hand troll and power troll gear and dinglebar gear.

(20) Snap gear means a type of hook-and-line gear where the hook and gangion are attached to the groundline using a mechanical fastener or snap.

Authorized officer means:

(1) Any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the USCG;

(2) Any special agent or fishery enforcement officer of NMFS;

(3) Any officer designated by the head of any Federal or state agency that has entered into an agreement with the Secretary and the Commandant of the USCG to enforce the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act or any other statute administered by NOAA; or

(4) Any USCG personnel accompanying and acting under the direction of any person described in paragraph (1) of this definition.

Basis species means any species or species group that is open to directed fishing that the vessel is authorized to harvest (see Tables 10, 11, and 30 to this part).

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, for purposes of regulations governing the commercial king and Tanner crab fisheries in part 680 of this Chapter, means those waters of the EEZ off the west coast of Alaska lying south of the Chukchi Sea statistical area as described in the coordinates listed for Figure 1 to this part, and extending south of the Aleutian Islands for 200 nm west of Scotch Cap Light (164°44′36″ W. long).

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI), for purposes of regulations governing the groundfish fisheries, means the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands subareas (see Figure 1 to this part).

Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Area means a habitat protection area specified at Table 42 and Figure 16 to this part.

Bering Sea Subarea of the BSAI means that portion of the EEZ contained in Statistical Areas 508, 509, 512, 513, 514, 516, 517, 518, 519, 521, 523, 524, and 530 (see Figure 1 to this part).

Bled codend means a form of discard by vessels using trawl gear wherein some or all of the fish are emptied into the sea from the net before fish are brought fully on board.

Bogoslof District means that part of the Bering Sea Subarea contained in Statistical Area 518 (see Figure 1 to this part).

Bowers Ridge Habitat Conservation Zone means a management area established for the protection of the Bowers Ridge and Ulm Plateau habitat areas of particular concern in the BSAI. See Table 25 to this part.

Breast line means the rope or wire running along the forward edges of the side panels of a net, or along the forward edge of the side rope in a rope trawl.

Briefing means a short (usually 2-4 day) training session that observers must complete to fulfill endorsement requirements.

BSAI trawl limited access sector means fisheries conducted in the BSAI by persons using trawl gear and who are not:

(1) Using an Amendment 80 vessel or an Amendment 80 LLP license; or

(2) Fishing for CDQ groundfish.

Bulwark means a section of a vessel's side continuing above the main deck.

Buying station means a land-based entity that receives unprocessed groundfish from a vessel for delivery to a shoreside processor and that does not process those fish.

Bycatch Limitation Zone 1 (Zone 1) means that part of the Bering Sea Subarea that is contained within the boundaries of Statistical Areas 508, 509, 512, and 516 (see Figure 1 to this part).

Bycatch Limitation Zone 2 (Zone 2) means that part of the Bering Sea Subarea that is contained within the boundaries of Statistical Areas 513, 517, and 521 (see Figure 1 to this part).

Bycatch or bycatch species means fish caught and released while targeting another species or caught and released while targeting the same species.

Calendar day means a 24-hour period that starts at 0001 hours Alaska local time and ends at 2400 hours Alaska local time.

Catch (see 50 CFR 600.10.)

Catcher/processor (C/P) means, with respect to groundfish recordkeeping and reporting and subpart E of this part, a vessel that is used for catching fish and processing that fish.

Catcher/processor vessel designation means, for purposes of the license limitation program, a license designation that authorizes the license holder:

(1) Designated on a groundfish license to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish and process license limitation groundfish on that vessel or to conduct only directed fishing for license limitation groundfish; or

(2) Designated on a crab species license to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for crab species and process crab species on that vessel or to conduct only directed fishing for crab species.

Catcher vessel (C/V) means a vessel that is used for catching fish and that does not process fish on board.

Catcher vessel designation means, for purposes of the license limitation program, a license designation that authorizes the license holder:

(1) Designated on a groundfish license to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for, but not process, license limitation groundfish on that vessel; or

(2) Designated on a crab species license to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for, but not process, crab species on that vessel.

Catcher Vessel Operational Area (CVOA) (see Figure 2 to this part and § 679.22(a)(5)).

CBL means crab bycatch limit.

CDQ means community development quota and is the amount of a CDQ reserve that is allocated to a CDQ group.

CDQ ABC reserve means 10.7 percent of the amount of the flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole ABC reserve that is allocated among the CDQ groups as calculated annually as described at § 679.31(b)(4).

CDQ allocation means a percentage of a CDQ reserve specified under § 679.31 that is assigned to a CDQ group.

CDQ equivalent pounds means the weight recorded in pounds, for landed CDQ groundfish and halibut, and calculated as round weight.

CDQ fee liability means the amount of money for CDQ groundfish and halibut cost recovery, in U.S. dollars, owed to NMFS by a CDQ group as determined by multiplying the appropriate standard ex-vessel value of landed CDQ groundfish and halibut by the appropriate CDQ fee percentage.

CDQ fee percentage means that positive number no greater than 3 percent (0.03) determined by the Regional Administrator and established for use in calculating the CDQ groundfish and halibut fee liability for a CDQ group.

CDQ group means an entity identified as eligible for the CDQ Program under 16 U.S.C. 1855(i)(1)(D). CDQ groups are listed in Table 7 to this part.

CDQ number means a number assigned to a CDQ group by NMFS that must be recorded and is required in all logbooks and reports submitted by vessels harvesting CDQ or processors taking deliveries of CDQ.

CDQ Program means the Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program.

CDQ representative means any individual who is authorized by a CDQ group to sign documents submitted to NMFS on behalf of the CDQ group.

CDQ reserve means the amount of each groundfish TAC apportioned under § 679.20, the amount of each catch limit for halibut, or the amount of TAC for crab that has been allocated to the CDQ Program.

CDQ species means any species or species group that is allocated from a CDQ reserve to a CDQ group.

CDQ standard ex-vessel value means the total U.S. dollar amount of landed CDQ groundfish and halibut as calculated by multiplying the number of landed CDQ equivalent pounds by the appropriate CDQ standard price determined by the Regional Administrator.

CDQ standard price means the price, in U.S. dollars, for landed CDQ groundfish and halibut, in CDQ equivalent pounds, as determined by the Regional Administrator.

Central Aleutian District means that part of the Aleutian Islands Subarea contained in Statistical Area 542 (see Figure 1 to this part).

Central GOA Regulatory Area means that portion of the GOA EEZ that is contained in Statistical Areas 620 and 630 (see Figure 3 to this part).

Chum Salmon Savings Area of the BSAI CVOA (See § 679.21(f)(14) and Figure 9 to this part).

Civil judgment, for purposes of subpart E of this part, means a judgment or finding of a civil offense by any court of competent jurisdiction.

Clearing officer means, a NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) special agent, an OLE fishery enforcement officer, or an OLE enforcement aide.

Commercial fishing means:

(1) For purposes of the salmon fishery, fishing for salmon for sale or barter.

(2) For purposes of the Pacific halibut fishery, fishing, the resulting catch of which either is, or is intended to be, sold or bartered but does not include subsistence fishing for halibut, as defined at 50 CFR 300.61.

(3) For purposes of Arctic fish, the resulting catch of fish in the Arctic Management Area which either is, or is intended to be, sold or bartered but does not include subsistence fishing for Arctic fish, as defined in this subsection.

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 (p)).

Commissioner of ADF&G means the principal executive officer of ADF&G.

Community quota entity (CQE) means a non-profit organization that:

(1) Did not exist prior to April 10, 2002;

(2) Represents at least one eligible community that is listed in Table 21 of this part; and,

(3) Has been approved by the Regional Administrator to obtain by transfer and hold QS, and to lease IFQ resulting from the QS on behalf of an eligible community; and

(4) Must be the Adak Community Entity as defined at § 680.2 if that non-profit organization represents the eligible community of Adak, AK.

Conviction, for purposes of subpart E of this part, means a judgment or conviction of a criminal offense by any court of competent jurisdiction, whether entered upon a verdict or a plea, and includes a conviction entered upon a plea of nolo contendere.

Cooperative quota (CQ)—(1) For purposes of the Amendment 80 Program means:

(i) The annual catch limit of an Amendment 80 species that may be caught by an Amendment 80 cooperative while fishing under a CQ permit;

(ii) The amount of annual halibut and crab PSC that may be used by an Amendment 80 cooperative while fishing under a CQ permit.

(2) For purposes of the Rockfish Program means:

(i) The annual catch limit of a rockfish primary species or rockfish secondary species that may be harvested by a rockfish cooperative while fishing under a CQ permit;

(ii) The amount of annual halibut PSC that may be used by a rockfish cooperative in the Central GOA while fishing under a CQ permit (see rockfish halibut PSC in this section).

(3) For purposes of the PCTC Program means:

(i) The annual catch limit of Pacific cod that may be caught by a PCTC Program cooperative while fishing under a CQ permit;

(ii) The amount of annual halibut and crab PSC that may be used by a PCTC Program cooperative while fishing under a CQ permit.

C. Opilio Crab Bycatch Limitation Zone (COBLZ) (see § 679.21(e) and Figure 13 to this part.

CQ permit means a permit issued to an Amendment 80 cooperative under § 679.4(o)(2), a rockfish cooperative under § 679.4(n)(1), or a PCTC Program cooperative under § 679.131(a).

CQE floating processor means, for the purposes of processing Pacific cod within the marine municipal boundaries of CQE communities (see Table 21 of this part) in the Western or Central Gulf of Alaska Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630, a vessel not meeting the definition of a stationary floating processor in this section, that has not harvested groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska in the same calendar year, and operates on the authority of an FPP endorsed as a CQE floating processor.

Council means North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Crab species means (see also king crab and tanner crab) all crab species covered by the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, including, but not limited to, red king crab (Paralithodes camtschatica), blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus), brown or golden king crab (Lithodes aequispina), scarlet or deep sea king crab (Lithodes couesi), Tanner or bairdi crab (Chionoecetes bairdi), opilio or snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), grooved Tanner crab (Chionoecetes tanneri), and triangle Tanner crab (Chionoecetes angulatus).

Crab species license means a license issued by NMFS that authorizes the license holder designated on the license to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for crab species.

Cruise means an observer deployment with a unique cruise number. A cruise begins when an observer receives an endorsement to deploy and ends when the observer completes all debriefing responsibilities.

Daily bag limit means the maximum number of salmon a person may retain in any calendar day from recreational fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area.

Daily reporting period or day is the period from 0001 hours, A.l.t., until the following 2400 hours, A.l.t.

Data collection agent (DCA) means the entity selected by the Regional Administrator to distribute an EDR to a person required to complete it, to receive the completed EDR, to review and verify the accuracy of the data in the EDR, and to provide those data to authorized recipients.

Debriefing means the post-deployment process that includes a one-on-one interview with NMFS staff, a NMFS preliminary data review, observer completion of all data corrections noted, observer preparation of affidavits and reports, and completion of tasks related to biological specimens or special projects.

Decertification, as used in § 679.53(c), means action taken by a decertifying official under § 679.53(c)(3) to revoke certification of an observer or observer provider. An observer or observer provider whose certification is so revoked is decertified.

Decertifying official, for purposes of subpart E of this part, means a designee authorized by the Regional Administrator to impose decertification.

Deep water flatfish (see Table 10 to this part pursuant to § 679.20(c).)

Deployment means the period between an observer's arrival at the point of embarkation and the date the observer disembarks for travel to debriefing.

Designated contact for the Aleut Corporation means an individual who is designated by the Aleut Corporation for the purpose of communication with NMFS regarding the identity of selected AI directed pollock fishery participants and weekly reports required by § 679.5.

Designated cooperative representative means an individual who is designated by the members of a fishery cooperative to fulfill requirements on behalf of the cooperative including, but not limited to, the signing of cooperative fishing permit applications; submitting catcher vessel pollock cooperative catch reports, and submitting annual cooperative fishing reports.

Designated primary processor means an AFA inshore processor that is designated by an inshore pollock cooperative as the AFA inshore processor to which the cooperative will deliver at least 90 percent of its BS pollock allocation during the year in which the AFA inshore cooperative fishing permit is in effect.

Direct financial interest means any source of income to, or capital investment or other interest held by, an individual, partnership, or corporation or an individual's spouse, immediate family member or parent that could be influenced by performance or non-performance of observer or observer provider duties.

Directed fishing means:

(1) Unless indicated otherwise, any fishing activity that results in the retention of an amount of a species or species group on board a vessel that is greater than the maximum retainable amount for that species or species group as calculated under § 679.20.

(2) With respect to license limitation groundfish species, directed fishing as defined in paragraph (1) of this definition.

(3) With respect to crab species under this part, the catching and retaining of any crab species.

(4) With respect to the harvest of groundfish by AFA catcher/processors and AFA catcher vessels, any fishing activity that results in the retention of an amount of a species or species group on board a vessel that is greater than the maximum retainable percentage for that species or species group as calculated under § 679.20.

(5) With respect to the harvest of flatfish in the Bering Sea subarea, for purposes of nonpelagic trawl restrictions under § 679.22(a) and modified nonpelagic trawl gear requirements under §§ 679.7(c)(5) and 679.24(f), fishing with nonpelagic trawl gear during any fishing trip that results in a retained aggregate amount of yellowfin sole, rock sole, Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Alaska plaice, and other flatfish that is greater than the retained amount of any other fishery category defined under § 679.21(b)(1)(ii) or of sablefish.

(6) With respect to the harvest of flatfish in the Central GOA Regulatory Area, for purposes of modified nonpelagic trawl gear requirements under §§ 679.7(b)(9) and 679.24(f), fishing with nonpelagic trawl gear during any fishing trip that results in a retained aggregate amount of shallow-water flatfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, and flathead sole that is greater than the retained amount of any other trawl fishery category as defined at § 679.21(d)(3)(iii).

Discard (see § 600.10.)

Dockside sale means, the transfer of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish from the person who harvested it to individuals for personal consumption, and not for resale.

Documented harvest means a lawful harvest that was recorded in compliance with Federal and state commercial fishing regulations in effect at the time of harvesting.

Donut Hole means the international waters of the Bering Sea outside the limits of the EEZ and Russian economic zone as depicted on the current edition of NOAA chart INT 813 Bering Sea (Southern Part).

Eastern Aleutian District means that part of the Aleutian Islands Subarea contained in Statistical Area 541 (see Figure 1 to this part).

Eastern GOA Regulatory Area means the Reporting Areas 649 and 659 and that portion of the GOA EEZ that is contained in Statistical Areas 640 and 650 (see Figure 3 to this part).

Economic data report (EDR) means the report of cost, labor, earnings, and revenue data required under § 679.65, § 679.94, and § 679.110.

eLandings means the Internet data entry system or desktop client components of the Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS) for reporting commercial fishery landings and production from waters off Alaska.

Electronic Monitoring system or EM system means a network of equipment that uses a software operating system connected to one or more technology components, including, but not limited to, cameras and recording devices to collect data on catch and vessel operations.

Eligible applicant means (for purposes of the LLP program) a qualified person who submitted an application during the application period announced by NMFS and:

(1) For a groundfish license or crab species license, who owned a vessel on June 17, 1995, from which the minimum number of documented harvests of license limitation groundfish or crab species were made in the relevant areas during the qualifying periods specified in § 679.4(k)(4) and (k)(5), unless the fishing history of that vessel was transferred in conformance with the provisions in paragraph (2) of this definition; or

(2) For a groundfish license or crab species license, to whom the fishing history of a vessel from which the minimum number of documented harvests of license limitation groundfish or crab species were made in the relevant areas during the qualifying periods specified in § 679.4(k)(4) and (k)(5) has been transferred or retained by the express terms of a written contract that clearly and unambiguously provides that the qualifications for a license under the LLP have been transferred or retained; or

(3) For a crab species license, who was an individual who held a State of Alaska permit for the Norton Sound king crab summer fishery at the time he or she made at least one harvest of red or blue king crab in the relevant area during the period specified in § 679.4(k)(5)(ii)(G), or a corporation that owned or leased a vessel on June 17, 1995, that made at least one harvest of red or blue king crab in the relevant area during the period in § 679.4(k)(5)(ii)(G), and that was operated by an individual who was an employee or a temporary contractor; or

(4) For a scallop license, who qualifies for a scallop license as specified at § 679.4(g)(2) of this part; or

(5) Who is an individual that can demonstrate eligibility pursuant to the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 29 U.S.C. 794 (a).

Eligible community means:

(1) for purposes of the CDQ Program, a community identified as eligible for the CDQ Program under 16 U.S.C. 1855(i)(1)(D). Eligible communities are listed in Table 7 to this part.

(2) For purposes of the IFQ program in the GOA, a community that is listed in Table 21 to this part, and that:

(i) Is a municipality or census designated place, as defined in the 2000 United States Census, located on the GOA coast of the North Pacific Ocean;

(ii) Has a population of not less than 20 and not more than 1,500 persons based on the 2000 United States Census;

(iii) Has had a resident of that community with at least one commercial landing of halibut or sablefish made during the period from 1980 through 2000, as documented by the State of Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; and

(iv) Is not accessible by road to a community larger than 1,500 persons based on the 2000 United States Census.

(3) For purposes of the IFQ program in the Aleutian Islands subarea, a community that is listed in Table 21 to this part, and that:

(i) Is a municipality or census designated place, as defined in the 2000 United States Census, located on the Aleutian Islands subarea coast of the North Pacific Ocean;

(ii) Is not an entity identified as eligible for the CDQ Program under 16 U.S.C. 1855(i)(1)(D);

(iii) Has a population of not less than 20 and not more than 1,500 persons based on the 2000 United States Census;

(iv) Has had a resident of that community with at least one commercial landing of halibut or sablefish made during the period from 1980 through 2000, as documented by the State of Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; and

(v) Is not accessible by road to a community larger than 1,500 persons based on the 2000 United States Census.

Eligible community resident means:

(1) For purposes of the IFQ Program, any individual who:

(i) Is a citizen of the United States;

(ii) Has maintained a domicile in a rural community listed in Table 21 to this part for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the time when the assertion of residence is made, and who is not claiming residency in another community, state, territory, or country, except that residents of the Village of Seldovia shall be considered to be eligible community residents of the City of Seldovia for the purposes of eligibility to lease IFQ from a CQE; and

(iii) Is an IFQ crew member except when that person is receiving halibut or sablefish IFQ that is derived from QS held by a CQE on behalf of an eligible community in the Aleutian Islands.

(2) For purposes of the Area 2C and Area 3A catch sharing plan (CSP) in § 300.65(c) of this title, means any individual or non-individual entity who:

(i) Holds a charter halibut permit as defined in § 300.61 of this title;

(ii) Has been approved by the Regional Administrator to receive GAF, as defined in § 300.61 of this title, from a CQE in a transfer between IFQ and GAF pursuant to § 300.65(c)(5)(ii) of this title; and

(iii) Begins or ends every charter vessel fishing trip, as defined in § 300.61 of this title, authorized by the charter halibut permit issued to that person, and on which halibut are retained, at a location(s) within the boundaries of the community represented by the CQE from which the GAF were received. The geographic boundaries of the eligible community will be those defined by the United States Census Bureau.

EM service provider means any person, including their employees or agents, that NMFS contracts with, or grants an EM hardware service provider permit to under § 679.52(d), to provide EM services, or to collect, review, interpret, or analyze EM data, as required under § 679.51. The two types of EM service providers are as follows:

(1) EM hardware service provider is a provider that NMFS grants a permit under § 679.52(d) and is authorized to deploy and service EM hardware aboard vessels in an EM category as specified in § 679.51.

(2) EM data review service provider is a provider that NMFS contracts with, or otherwise has an established business relationship with, to review, interpret, or analyze EM data as required under § 679.51.

Endorsement. (1) (See area endorsement for purposes of the groundfish LLP permits);

(2) (See area/species endorsement for purposes of the crab LLP permits);

(3) (See § 679.4(g)(3)(ii) area endorsements for purposes of the scallop permit).

Experimental fishery (see Exempted fishery, § 679.6).

Federal waters means waters within the EEZ off Alaska (see also reporting area).

Federally permitted vessel means a vessel that is named on a Federal fisheries permit issued pursuant to § 679.4(b), a Salmon Federal Fisheries Permit issued pursuant to § 679.114(b), or a Federal crab vessel permit issued pursuant to § 680.4(k) of this chapter. Federally permitted vessels must conform to regulatory requirements for purposes of fishing restrictions in habitat conservation areas, habitat conservation zones, habitat protection areas, and the Modified Gear Trawl Zone; for purposes of anchoring prohibitions in habitat protection areas; for purposes of requirements for the BS and GOA nonpelagic trawl fishery pursuant to §§ 679.7(b)(9) and (c)(5), and 679.24(f); and for purposes of VMS requirements.

Fishery cooperative or cooperative means any entity cooperatively managing directed fishing for BS pollock and formed under section 1 of the Fisherman's Collective Marketing Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 521). In and of itself, a cooperative is not an AFA entity subject to excessive harvest share limitations, unless a single person, corporation or other business entity controls the cooperative and the cooperative has the power to control the fishing activity of its member vessels.

Fish product (See groundfish product.)

Fish product weight means the weight of the fish product in pounds or to at least the nearest thousandth of a metric ton (0.001 mt). Fish product weight is based upon the number of production units and the weight of those units. Production units include pans, cartons, blocks, trays, cans, bags, and individual fresh or frozen fish. The weight of a production unit is the average weight of representative samples of the product, and, for fish other than fresh fish, may include additives or water but not packaging. Any allowance for water added cannot exceed 5 percent of the gross product weight (fish, additives, and water).

Fishermen means persons who catch, take, or harvest fish.

Fishing circle means the circumference of a trawl intersecting the center point on a fishing line, and that is perpendicular to the long axis of a trawl.

Fishing line means a length of chain or wire rope in the bottom front end of a trawl to which the webbing or lead ropes are attached.

Fishing trip means: (1) With respect to retention requirements (MRA, IR/IU, and pollock roe stripping), recordkeeping and reporting requirements under § 679.5, and determination of directed fishing for flatfish.

(i) Catcher/processors and motherships. An operator of a catcher/processor or mothership processor vessel is engaged in a fishing trip from the time the harvesting, receiving, or processing of groundfish is begun or resumed in an area until any of the following events occur:

(A) The effective date of a notification prohibiting directed fishing in the same area under § 679.20 or § 679.21;

(B) The offload or transfer of all fish or fish product from that vessel;

(C) The vessel enters or leaves an area where a different directed fishing prohibition applies;

(D) The vessel begins fishing with a different type of authorized fishing gear; or

(E) The end of a weekly reporting period, whichever comes first.

(ii) Catcher vessels. An operator of a catcher vessel is engaged in a fishing trip from the time the harvesting of groundfish is begun until the offload or transfer of all fish or fish product from that vessel.

(2) IFQ program. With respect to the IFQ program, the period beginning when a vessel operator commences harvesting IFQ species and ending when the vessel operator lands any species.

(3) North Pacific Observer Program. With respect to subpart E of this part, one of the following periods:

(i) For a catcher vessel delivering to a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, the period of time that begins when a catcher vessel departs a port to harvest fish until the offload or transfer of all fish from that vessel.

(ii) For a catcher vessel delivering to a tender vessel, the period of time that begins when a catcher vessel departs from port to harvest fish until the vessel returns to a port in which a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor with a valid FPP is located.

(iii) For a catcher/processor in the partial observer coverage category, the period of time that begins when the vessel departs a port to harvest fish until the vessel returns to port and offloads all processed product.

(iv) For a vessel in any EM category, the period of time that begins when the vessel with an empty hold departs a port or tender vessel until the vessel returns to a port or tender vessel and offloads or delivers all fish.

(4) For purposes of § 679.7(n)(7), the period beginning when a vessel operator commences harvesting any Rockfish Program species and ending when the vessel operator offloads or transfers any processed or unprocessed Rockfish Program species from that vessel.

(5) For purposes of § 679.7(o)(4), the period beginning when a vessel operator commences harvesting any Amendment 80 species and ending when the vessel operator offloads or transfers any processed or unprocessed Amendment 80 species from that vessel.

(6) For purposes of § 679.7(d)(5)(ii)(C)(2) for CDQ groups and § 679.7(k)(8)(ii) for AFA entities, the period beginning when a vessel operator commences harvesting any pollock that will accrue against a directed fishing allowance for pollock in the BS or against a pollock CDQ allocation harvested in the BS and ending when the vessel operator offloads or transfers any processed or unprocessed pollock from that vessel.

(7) For purposes of subpart J of this part, the period beginning when a vessel operator commences commercial fishing for any salmon species in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area and ending when the vessel operator offloads or transfers any unprocessed salmon species from that vessel.

Fishing year means 0001 hours, A.l.t., on January 1, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., on December 31 (see § 679.23).

Fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve means 20 percent of the sablefish fixed gear TAC for each subarea in the BSAI for which a sablefish TAC is specified under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B).

Flatfish Exchange means the exchange of unused CDQ, or Amendment 80 CQ, of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole in the BSAI for an equivalent amount (in metric tons) of CDQ ABC reserve or Amendment 80 ABC reserve, respectively, for flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole in the BSAI other than the species listed for exchange on the Flatfish Exchange Application as described in a notice of adjustment or apportionment in the Federal Register.

Food bank distributor means a tax-exempt organization with the primary purpose of distributing food resources to hunger relief agencies (see § 679.26).

Food bank network means a tax-exempt organization with the primary purpose of coordinating receipt and delivery of food resources to its member food bank distributors or hunger relief agencies (see § 679.26).

Footrope means a chain or wire rope attached to the bottom front end of a trawl and attached to the fishing line.

Forage fish (see Table 2c to this part and § 679.20(i)).

Gear (see the definition for Authorized fishing gear of this section).

Gear deployment (or to set gear) (see § 679.5(c)(3)(vi)(B) for longline and pot gear; see § 679.5(c)(4)(vi)(B) for trawl gear).

Gear retrieval (or to haul gear) (see § 679.5(c)(3)(vi)(C) for longline and pot gear; see § 679.5(c)(4)(vi)(C) for trawl gear).

Grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part and § 679.20(i)).

Groundfish means (1) FMP species as listed in Table 2a to this part.

(2) Target species specified annually pursuant to § 679.20(a)(2) (See also the definitions for: License limitation groundfish; CDQ species; and IR/IU species of this section).

Groundfish CDQ fishing means fishing that results in the retention of any groundfish CDQ species, but that does not meet the definition of pollock CDQ fishing, sablefish CDQ fishing, or halibut CDQ fishing.

Groundfish license means (for purposes of the LLP program) a license issued by NMFS that authorizes the license holder designated on the license to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish.

Groundfish product or fish product means any species product listed in Tables 1, 2a, 2c, and 2d to this part.

Gulf of Alaska (GOA) means that portion of the EEZ contained in Statistical Areas 610, 620, 630, 640, and 650 (see Figure 3 to this part).

Gulf of Alaska Coral Habitat Protection Areas means management areas established for the protection of coral habitat areas of particular concern in the Gulf of Alaska. See Table 26 to this part.

Gulf of Alaska Slope Habitat Conservation Areas means management areas established for the protection of essential fish habitat on the Gulf of Alaska slope. See Table 27 to this part.

Halibut means Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis).

Halibut CDQ fishing means using fixed gear, retaining halibut CDQ, and not retaining groundfish over the maximum retainable amounts specified in § 679.20(e) and Table 11 to this part.

Halibut CDQ reserve means the amount of the halibut catch limit for IPHC regulatory areas 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E that is reserved for the halibut CDQ program (see § 679.31(a)(2)).

Halibut Deck Sorting means the authorized sorting of halibut on deck pursuant to § 679.102.

Harvesting or to harvest means the catching and retaining of any fish.

Harvest zone codes (see Table 8 to this part).

Haul means the retrieval of trawl gear which results in catching fish or which does not result in catching fish; a test of trawl gear; or when non-functional gear is pulled in, even if no fish are harvested. All hauls of any type need to be recorded and numbered throughout the year, whether or not fish are caught.

Headrope means a rope bordering the top front end of a trawl.

Health care provider means an individual licensed to provide health care services by the state where he or she practices and performs within the scope of his or her specialty to diagnose and treat medical conditions as defined by applicable Federal, state, or local laws and regulations. A health care provider located outside of the United States and its territories who is licensed to practice medicine by the applicable medical authorities is included in this definition.

Herring Savings Area means any of three areas in the BSAI presented in Figure 4 to this part (see also § 679.21(b)(4) for additional closure information).

Hook-and-line catcher/processor means a catcher/processor vessel that is named on a valid LLP license that is noninterim and transferable, or that is interim and subsequently becomes noninterim and transferable, and that is endorsed for any of the following areas: Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and/or any area in the Gulf of Alaska; and endorsed for catcher/processor fishing activity, catcher/processor Pacific cod, and hook-and-line gear.

Hunger relief agency means a tax-exempt organization with the primary purpose of feeding economically disadvantaged individuals free of charge (see § 679.26).

IFQ actual ex-vessel value means the U.S. dollar amount of all compensation, monetary or non-monetary, including any IFQ retro-payments received by an IFQ permit holder for the purchase of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish landing(s) on his or her permit(s) described in terms of IFQ equivalent pounds.

IFQ crew member means any individual who has at least 150 days experience working as part of the harvesting crew in any U.S. commercial fishery, or any individual who receives an initial allocation of QS. For purposes of this definition, “harvesting” means work that is directly related to the catching and retaining of fish. Work in support of harvesting, but not directly involved with harvesting, is not considered harvesting crew work. For example, searching for fish, work on a fishing vessel only as an engineer or cook, or work preparing a vessel for a fishing trip would not be considered work of a harvesting crew.

IFQ equivalent pound(s) means the weight amount, recorded in pounds and calculated as round weight for sablefish and headed and gutted weight for halibut for an IFQ landing or for estimation of the fee liability of halibut landed as guided angler fish (GAF), as defined in § 300.61 of this title. Landed GAF are converted to IFQ equivalent pounds as specified in § 300.65(c) of this title.

IFQ fee liability means that amount of money for IFQ cost recovery, in U.S. dollars, owed to NMFS by an IFQ permit holder as determined by multiplying the appropriate standard ex-vessel value or, for non-GAF landings, the actual ex-vessel value of his or her IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish landing(s), by the appropriate IFQ fee percentage and the appropriate standard ex-vessel value of landed GAF derived from his or her IFQ by the appropriate IFQ fee percentage.

IFQ fee percentage means that positive number no greater than 3 percent (0.03) determined by the Regional Administrator and established for use to calculate the IFQ cost recovery fee liability for an IFQ permit holder.

IFQ halibut means any halibut that is harvested with setline gear as defined in § 300.61 of this title or fixed gear as defined in this section while commercial fishing in any IFQ regulatory area defined in this section.

IFQ landing means the unloading or transferring of any IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or products thereof from the vessel that harvested such fish or the removal from the water of a vessel containing IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or products thereof.

IFQ permit holder means the person identified on an IFQ permit, at the time a landing is made (see § 679.4(d)(1)).

IFQ program means the individual fishing quota program for the fixed gear fisheries for Pacific halibut and sablefish in waters in and off Alaska and governed by regulations under this part.

IFQ regulatory area means:

(1) With respect to IFQ halibut, areas 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, or 4E as prescribed in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to § 300.62 of chapter III of this title (see also Figure 15 to this part).

(2) With respect to IFQ sablefish, any of the three regulatory areas in the GOA and any subarea of the BSAI, and all waters of the State of Alaska between the shore and the inshore boundary of such regulatory areas and subareas, except waters of Prince William Sound and areas in which sablefish fishing is managed under a State of Alaska limited entry program (see Figure 14 to this part).

IFQ retro-payment means the U.S. dollar value of a payment, monetary or non-monetary, made to an IFQ permit holder for the purchase of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish landed at some previous time.

IFQ sablefish means any sablefish that is harvested with fixed gear, either in the EEZ off Alaska or in waters of the State of Alaska, by persons holding an IFQ permit, but does not include sablefish harvested in Prince William Sound or under a State of Alaska limited entry program.

IFQ standard ex-vessel value means the total U.S. dollar amount of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish landings as calculated by multiplying the number of landed IFQ equivalent pounds plus landed GAF in IFQ equivalent pounds by the appropriate IFQ standard price determined by the Regional Administrator.

IFQ standard price means a price, expressed in U.S. dollars per IFQ equivalent pound, for landed IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish determined annually by the Regional Administrator and documented in an IFQ standard price list published by NMFS.

Immediate family member includes an individual with any of the following relationships to the QS holder:

(1) Spouse, and parents thereof;

(2) Sons and daughters, and spouses thereof;

(3) Parents, and spouses thereof;

(4) Brothers and sisters, and spouses thereof;

(5) Grandparents and grandchildren, and spouses thereof;

(6) Domestic partner and parents thereof, including domestic partners of any individual in paragraphs (1) through (5) of this definition; and

(7) Any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the QS holder is the equivalent of a family relationship.

Incidental catch or incidental species means fish caught and retained while targeting on some other species, but does not include discard of fish that were returned to the sea.

Indictment, for purposes of subpart E of this part, means indictment for a criminal offense. An information or other filing by competent authority charging a criminal offense must be given the same effect as an indictment.

Individual means a natural person who is not a corporation, partnership, association, or other such entity.

Individual fishing quota (IFQ) means the annual catch limit of sablefish or halibut that may be harvested by a person who is lawfully allocated a harvest privilege for a specific portion of the TAC of sablefish or halibut.

Initial Total Allowable Catch (ITAC) means the tonnage of a TAC for an Amendment 80 species in a management area that is available for apportionment to the BSAI trawl limited access sector and the Amendment 80 sector in a calendar year after deducting from the TAC the CDQ reserve, the incidental catch allowance the Regional Administrator determines is required on an annual basis, as applicable, to account for projected incidental catch of an Amendment 80 species by non-Amendment 80 vessels engaged in directed fishing for groundfish and, for Atka mackerel, the Atka mackerel jig allocation.

Inshore component in the GOA means the following three categories of the U.S. groundfish fishery that process pollock harvested in the GOA or Pacific cod harvested in the Eastern GOA:

(1) Shoreside processors.

(2) Vessels less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA that hold an inshore processing endorsement on their Federal fisheries permit, and that process no more than 126 mt per week in round-weight equivalents of an aggregate amount of pollock and Eastern GOA Pacific cod.

(3) Stationary floating processors that—

(i) Hold an inshore processing endorsement on their Federal processor permit;

(ii) Process pollock harvested in a GOA directed fishery at a single GOA geographic location in Alaska state waters during a fishing year; and/or,

(iii) Process Pacific cod harvested in the Eastern GOA regulatory area at a single GOA geographic location in Alaska state waters during a fishing year.

Interagency electronic reporting system (IERS) means an interagency electronic reporting system that allows fishery participants to use the Internet or desktop client software named eLandings to enter landings and production data for appropriate distribution to the ADF&G, IPHC, and NMFS Alaska Region (see § 679.5(e)).

IPHC means International Pacific Halibut Commission (see part 300 of chapter III of this title).

IR/IU means the improved retention/improved utilization program set out at § 679.27.

IR/IU species means any groundfish species that is regulated by a retention or utilization requirement set out at § 679.27.

King crab means red king crab (Paralithodes camtschatica), blue king crab (P. platypus), brown (or golden) king crab (Lithodes aequispina), and scarlet (or deep sea) king crab (Lithodes couesi).

Landing means offloading fish.

Legal landing means a landing in compliance with Federal and state commercial fishing regulations in effect at the time of landing.

Legal landing of halibut or sablefish (see § 679.40(a)(3)(v)).

Length overall (LOA) of a vessel means the centerline longitudinal distance, rounded to the nearest foot, measured between:

(1) The outside foremost part of the vessel visible above the waterline, including bulwarks, but excluding bowsprits and similar fittings or attachments, and

(2) The outside aftermost part of the vessel visible above the waterline, including bulwarks, but excluding rudders, outboard motor brackets, and similar fittings or attachments (see Figure 6 to this part).

License holder means the person who is named on a currently valid groundfish license, crab species license, or scallop license.

License limitation groundfish means target species specified annually pursuant to § 679.20(a)(2), except that demersal shelf rockfish east of 140 W. longitude, sablefish managed under the IFQ program, sablefish managed under the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, and pollock allocated to the Aleutian Islands directed pollock fishery and harvested by vessels 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA or less, are not considered license limitation groundfish.

Limited Access System Administrative Fund (LASAF) means the administrative account used for depositing cost recovery fee payments into the U.S. Treasury as described in the Magnuson-Stevens Act under section 304(d)(2)(C)(i) and established under section 305(h)(5)(B).

Listed AFA catcher/processor means an AFA catcher/processor permitted to harvest BS pollock under § 679.4(l)(2)(i).

LLP license originally assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel means the LLP license listed in Column C of Table 31 to this part that corresponds to the vessel listed in Column A of Table 31 to this part with the USCG Documentation Number listed in Column B of Table 31 to this part.

Logbook means Daily Cumulative Production Logbook (DCPL) or Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL) required by § 679.5.

Management area means any district, regulatory area, subpart, part, or the entire GOA, BSAI, or Arctic Management Area.

Manager, with respect to any shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or buying station, means the individual responsible for the operation of the processor or buying station.

Marmot Bay Tanner Crab Protection Area means a habitat protection area of the Gulf of Alaska specified in Figure 5 to this part that is closed to directed fishing for groundfish with trawl gear, except directed fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear.

Maximum LOA (MLOA) means:

(1) With respect to the scallop license limitation program, the MLOA is equal to the length overall on February 8, 1999, of the longest vessel that was:

(i) Authorized by a Federal or State of Alaska Scallop Moratorium Permit to harvest scallops;

(ii) Used by the eligible applicant to make legal landings of scallops during the scallop LLP qualification period, as specified at § 679.4(g)(2)(iii) of this part.

(2) With respect to the groundfish and crab species license limitation program, the LOA of the vessel on June 24, 1992, unless the vessel was less than 125 ft (38.1 m) on June 24, 1992, then 1.2 times the LOA of the vessel on June 24, 1992, or 125 ft (38.1 m), whichever is less. However, if the vessel was under reconstruction on June 24, 1992, then the basis for the MLOA will be the LOA of the vessel on the date that reconstruction was completed and not June 24, 1992. The following exceptions apply regardless of how the MLOA was determined.

(i) If the vessel's LOA on June 17, 1995, was less than 60 ft (18.3 m), or if the vessel was under reconstruction on June 17, 1995, and the vessel's LOA on the date that reconstruction was completed was less than 60 ft (18.3 m), then the vessel's MLOA cannot exceed 59 ft (18 m).

(ii) If the vessel's LOA on June 17, 1995, was greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) but less than 125 ft (38.1 m), or if the vessel was under reconstruction on June 17, 1995, and the vessel's LOA on the date that reconstruction was completed was greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) but less 125 ft (38.1 m), then the vessel's MLOA cannot exceed 124 ft (37.8 m).

(iii) If the vessel's LOA on June 17, 1995, was 125 ft (38.1 m) or greater, then the vessel's MLOA is the vessel's LOA on June 17, 1995, or if the vessel was under reconstruction on June 17, 1995, and the vessel's LOA on the date that reconstruction was completed was 125 ft (38.1 m) or greater, then the vessel's MLOA is the vessel's LOA on the date reconstruction was completed.

(iv) The MLOA of an Amendment 80 LLP license or Amendment 80 LLP/QS license will be permanently changed to 295 ft. (89.9 m) when an Amendment 80 replacement vessel is listed on the license following the approval of a license transfer application described at § 679.4(k)(7).

(v) The MLOA of a groundfish LLP license endorsed to catch and process Pacific cod with hook-and-line gear in the BS or AI, or both, and is designated in Column B of Table 9 to this part is 220 feet (67 m).

(vi) An AFA vessel is exempt from the MLOA on an LLP license with a Bering Sea area endorsement or an Aleutian Islands area endorsement when the vessel is used in the BSAI to harvest or process license limitation groundfish and the LLP license specifies an exemption from the MLOA restriction for the AFA vessel.

Maximum retainable amount (MRA) (see § 679.20(e)).

Modified Gear Trawl Zone means an area of the Bering Sea subarea specified at Table 51 to this part that is closed to directed fishing for groundfish with nonpelagic trawl gear, except by vessels using modified nonpelagic trawl gear meeting the standards at § 679.24(f).

Mothership means a vessel that receives and processes groundfish from other vessels.

Nearshore Bristol Bay Trawl Closure Area of the BSAI (See § 679.22(a)(9) and Figure 12 to this part.)

Net-sounder device means a sensor used to determine the depth from the water surface at which a fishing net is operating.

Net weight (IFQ or CDQ halibut only). Net weight of IFQ or CDQ halibut means the weight of a halibut that is gutted, head off, and washed or ice and slime deducted.

NMFS Alaska Region website means https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska.

NMFS investigator, for purposes of subpart E of this part, means a designee authorized by the Regional Administrator to conduct investigations under this section.

NMFS Person Identification Number means a unique number assigned by NMFS to any person who applied for, or who has been issued, a certificate, license, or permit under any fishery management program administered by the Alaska Region for purposes of the NMFS/Alaska Region Integrated Regional Data System.

Non-allocated or nonspecified species means those fish species, other than prohibited species, for which TAC has not been specified (e.g., prowfish and lingcod).

Non-IFQ groundfish means groundfish, other than IFQ sablefish.

Non-individual entity means a person who is not an individual or “natural” person; it includes corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, joint ventures, joint tenancy, and any other type of “person” other than a natural person.

Non-allocated secondary species (see Rockfish Program species in this section).

Non-chinook salmon means coho, pink, chum or sockeye salmon.

Nontrawl EM selection pool means the defined group of vessels from which NMFS will randomly select the vessels required to use an EM system under § 679.51(f).

North Pacific fishery means any commercial fishery in state or Federal waters off Alaska.

Northern Bering Sea Research Area means a habitat research area specified at Table 43 and Figure 17 to this part.

Nunivak Island, Etolin Strait, and Kuskokwim Bay Habitat Conservation Area means a habitat protection area specified at Table 44 and Figure 21 to this part.

Observed means observed by one or more observers (see subpart E of this part).

Observer means any

(1) Individual employed by a permitted observer provider or a NMFS observer provider for the purpose of serving in the capacity of an observer aboard vessels and at shoreside processors or stationary floating processors under this part; or

(2) NMFS employee deployed at the direction of the Regional Administrator or individual authorized by NMFS, aboard a vessel or at a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor for the purpose of serving in the capacity of an observer as required for vessels, shoreside processors, or stationary floating processors under § 679.51(a) or (b), or for other purposes of conservation and management of marine resources as specified by the Regional Administrator.

Observer Program means the administrative office of the North Pacific Observer Program located at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (See § 679.51(c)(3) for contact information).

Observer Provider means any person or commercial enterprise that is granted a permit by NMFS to provide observer services to vessels, shoreside processors, or stationary floating processors for observer coverage credit as required in subpart E of this part.

Official AFA record means the information prepared by the Regional Administrator about vessels and processors that were used to participate in the BSAI pollock fisheries during the qualifying periods specified in § 679.4(l). Information in the official AFA record includes vessel ownership information, documented harvests made from vessels during AFA qualifying periods, vessel characteristics, and documented amounts of pollock processed by pollock processors during AFA qualifying periods. The official AFA record is presumed to be correct for the purpose of determining eligibility for AFA permits. An applicant for an AFA permit will have the burden of proving correct any information submitted in an application that is inconsistent with the official record.

Official License Limitation Program (LLP) record means the information prepared by the Regional Administrator about vessels that were used to participate in the groundfish or crab fisheries during qualified periods for the groundfish and crab LLP specified at § 679.4(k) and in the scallop fisheries during the qualifying periods for the scallop LLP specified at § 679.4(g). Information in the official LLP record includes vessel ownership information, documented harvests made from vessels during the qualification periods, and vessel characteristics. The official LLP record is presumed to be correct for the purpose of determining eligibility for licenses. An applicant for a license under the LLP will have the burden of proving the validity of information submitted in an application that is inconsistent with the official LLP record.

Offshore component in the GOA means all vessels not included in the definition of “inshore component in the GOA” that process pollock harvested in the GOA, and/or Pacific cod harvested in the Eastern GOA.

Operate a vessel means for purposes of VMS that the fishing vessel is:

(1) Offloading or processing fish;

(2) In transit to, from, or between the fishing areas; or

(3) Fishing or conducting operations in support of fishing.

Optimum yield means:

(1) With respect to the salmon fishery, that amount of any species of salmon that will provide the greatest overall benefit to the Nation, with particular reference to food production and recreational opportunities, as specified in the Salmon FMP.

(2) With respect to the groundfish and Arctic fisheries, see § 679.20(a)(1).

Other flatfish (see Table 11 to this part pursuant to § 679.20(c).)

Other gear means gear other than authorized fishing gear.

Other rockfish (see Tables 10 and 11 to this part pursuant to § 679.20(c); see also “rockfish” in this section.)

Other species is a category of target species for the purpose of MRA and PSC management that consists of groundfish species in each management area. These target species are managed as an other species group and identified in Tables 10 and 11 to this part pursuant to § 679.20(e).

Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program means the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program as implemented under subpart L of this part.

Parallel groundfish fishery. With respect to subpart E of this part, parallel groundfish fishery means a fishery that occurs in waters of the State of Alaska (from 0 to 3 nm) adjacent to the BSAI or GOA management areas and opens concurrently with Federal groundfish fisheries such that groundfish catch is deducted from the Federal Total Allowable Catch.

PCTC Program cooperative means a group of eligible Pacific cod harvesters who have chosen to form a cooperative and associate with a processor under the requirements at § 679.131 in order to combine and harvest fish collectively under a CQ permit issued by NMFS.

PCTC Program harvester QS pool means the sum of Pacific cod QS units assigned to LLP licenses established for the PCTC Program fishery based on the PCTC Program official record.

PCTC Program official record means information used by NMFS necessary to determine eligibility to participate in the PCTC Program and assign specific harvest privileges or limits to PCTC Program participants based on Pacific cod legal landings as defined at § 679.130.

PCTC Program participants means those PCTC Program harvesters and processors who receive, hold, or use PCTC Program QS.

PCTC Program processor QS pool means the sum of PCTC Program QS units assigned to processor permits issued under the PCTC Program based on the PCTC Program official record.

PCTC Program QS unit means a single share of the PCTC Program QS pool based on Pacific cod legal landings.

PCTC Program quota share (QS) means QS units issued by NMFS expressed in metric tons, derived from the Pacific cod legal landings assigned to an LLP license or PCTC Program QS permit held by a processor and used as the basis for the issuance of annual CQ.

Permit means documentation granting permission to fish and includes “license” as a type of permit.

Person means any individual (whether or not a citizen or national of the United States), any corporation, partnership, association, or other non-individual entity (whether or not organized, or existing under the laws of any state), and any Federal, state, local, or foreign government or any entity of any such aforementioned governments.

Personal use fishing means, for purposes of the salmon fishery, fishing other than commercial fishing.

Pollock CDQ fishing means directed fishing for pollock in the BS or AI under a pollock allocation to the CDQ Program authorized at § 679.31(a) and accruing pollock catch against a pollock CDQ allocation.

Pollock roe means product consisting of pollock eggs, either loose or in sacs or skeins.

Possession limit means the maximum number of unprocessed salmon a person may possess from recreational fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area.

Pot catcher/processor means a catcher/processor vessel that is named on a valid LLP license that is noninterim and transferable, or that is interim and subsequently becomes noninterim and transferable, and that is endorsed for Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and/or Gulf of Alaska catcher/processor fishing activity, catcher/processor Pacific cod, and pot gear.

Preponderance of the evidence, for purposes of subpart E of this part, means proof by information that, compared with that opposing it, leads to the conclusion that the fact at issue is more probably true than not.

Primary product (see Table 1 to this part).

Processing, or to process, means the preparation of, or to prepare, fish or crab to render it suitable for human consumption, industrial uses, or long-term storage, including but not limited to cooking, canning, smoking, salting, drying, freezing, or rendering into meal or oil, but does not mean icing, bleeding, heading, or gutting.

Processor vessel means, unless otherwise restricted, any vessel that has been issued a Federal fisheries permit and that can be used for processing groundfish.

Product transfer report (PTR) (see § 679.5(g)).

Program Administrator, RAM means the Program Administrator of Restricted Access Management Program, Alaska Region, NMFS.

Prohibited species means any of the species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), Pacific herring (Clupea harengus pallasi), king crab, and Tanner crab (see Table 2b to this part), caught by a vessel issued an FFP under § 679.4(b) while fishing for groundfish in the BSAI or GOA, unless retention is authorized by other applicable laws, including the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to § 300.62 of this title.

Prohibited species catch (PSC) means any of the species listed in Table 2b to this part.

PRR means standard product recovery rate (see Table 3 to this part).

PSD Permit means a permit issued by NMFS to an applicant who qualifies as an authorized distributor for purposes of the PSD.

PSD Program means the Prohibited Species Donation Program established under § 679.26.

PSQ means prohibited species quota and is the amount of a PSQ reserve that is allocated to a CDQ group.

PSQ allocation means a percentage of a PSQ reserve specified under § 679.31 that is assigned to a CDQ group.

PSQ reserve means the amount of a prohibited species catch limit established under § 679.21 that has been allocated to the CDQ Program under § 679.21.

PSQ species means any species or species group that has been allocated from a PSQ reserve to a CDQ group.

Qualified Person means:

(1) With respect to the IFQ program, see IFQ Management Measures at § 679.40(a)(2).

(2) With respect to the groundfish and crab species license limitation program, a person who was eligible on June 17, 1995, to document a fishing vessel under Chapter 121, Title 46, U.S.C.

(3) With respect to the scallop LLP, a person who was eligible on February 8, 1999, to document a fishing vessel under Chapter 121, Title 46, U.S.C.

Quarter, or quarterly reporting period, means one of four successive 3-month periods, which begin at 0001 hours, A.l.t., on the first day of each quarter, and end at 2400 hours, A.l.t., on the last day of each quarter, as follows:

(1) 1st quarter: January 1 through March 31.

(2) 2nd quarter: April 1 through June 30.

(3) 3rd quarter: July 1 through September 30.

(4) 4th quarter: October 1 through December 31.

Quota share (QS) means a permit, the face amount of which is used as a basis for the annual calculation of a person's IFQ.

Reconstruction means a change in the LOA of the vessel from its original qualifying LOA.

Recreational Fishing Quota (RFQ) means the pounds of halibut issued annually to a Recreational Quota Entity to supplement the annual guided sport catch limit under the catch sharing plan for IFQ regulatory areas 2C and 3A pursuant to § 300.65(c) of this title.

Recreational Quota Entity (RQE) means a non-profit entity incorporated under the laws of the State of Alaska, recognized as exempt from Federal income tax by the Internal Revenue Service, and authorized by NMFS to participate in the Halibut IFQ Program to hold commercial halibut quota share to supplement the annual guided sport catch limit in IFQ regulatory areas 2C and 3A under the catch sharing plan pursuant to § 300.65(c) of this title. NMFS will authorize only one RQE at a time.

Red King Crab Savings Area (RKCSA) of the BSAI (see § 679.22(a)(3) and Figure 11 to this part).

Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS) of the BSAI (see § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B) and Figure 11 to this part).

Regional Administrator, for purposes of this part, means the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, as defined at § 600.10 of this chapter, or a designee.

Registered buyer means the person identified on a Registered Buyer permit (see § 679.4(d)(3)).

Registered crab receiver (RCR) means a person issued an RCR permit, described under 50 CFR part 680, by the Regional Administrator.

Registered Salmon Receiver means a person holding a Registered Salmon Receiver Permit issued by NMFS.

Regulatory area means any of three areas of the EEZ in the GOA (see Figure 3 to this part).

Reporting area (see Figures 1 and 3 to this part) means:

(1) An area that includes a statistical area of the EEZ off Alaska and any adjacent waters of the State of Alaska;

(2) The reporting areas 300, 400, 550, and 690, which do not contain EEZ waters off Alaska or Alaska state waters; or

(3) Reporting areas 649 and 659, which contain only waters of the State of Alaska.

Representative (see § 679.5(b)).

Reprocessed or rehandled product (see Table 1 to this part).

Restricted AFA inshore processor means an AFA inshore processor permitted to harvest pollock under § 679.4(l)(5)(i)(B).

Retain on board (see §§ 600.10 and 679.27 of this chapter.)

Rockfish means:

(1) For the Gulf of Alaska: Any species of the genera Sebastes or Sebastolobus except Sebastes ciliatus (dark rockfish); Sebastes melanops (black rockfish); and Sebastes mystinus (blue rockfish).

(2) For the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area: Any species of the genera Sebastes or Sebastolobus except Sebastes ciliatus (dark rockfish).

Rockfish (Catch Monitoring Control Plan) CMCP specialist, for purposes of subpart H to this part, means a designee authorized by the Regional Administrator to monitor compliance with catch monitoring and control plans or for other purposes of conservation and management of marine resources as specified by the Regional Administrator.

Rockfish cooperative means a group of rockfish eligible harvesters who have chosen to form a rockfish cooperative under the requirements in § 679.81 in order to combine and harvest fish collectively under a CQ permit issued by NMFS.

Rockfish CQ (See CQ)

Rockfish CQ equivalent pound(s) means the weight recorded in pounds, for a rockfish CQ landing and calculated as round weight.

Rockfish eligible harvester means a person who is permitted by NMFS to hold rockfish QS.

Rockfish entry level harvester means a person who is harvesting fish in the rockfish entry level longline fishery.

Rockfish entry level longline fishery means the longline gear fisheries in the Central GOA conducted under the Rockfish Program by rockfish entry level harvesters.

Rockfish entry level trawl fishery means the trawl gear fisheries in the Central GOA conducted under the Rockfish Program by rockfish entry level harvesters during 2007 through 2011 only.

Rockfish fee liability means that amount of money for Rockfish Program cost recovery, in U.S. dollars, owed to NMFS by a CQ permit holder as determined by multiplying the appropriate standard ex-vessel value of his or her rockfish landing(s) by the appropriate rockfish fee percentage.

Rockfish fee percentage means that positive number no greater than 3 percent (0.03) determined by the Regional Administrator and established for use in calculating the rockfish fee liability for a CQ permit holder.

Rockfish halibut PSC means the amount of halibut PSC that may be used by a rockfish cooperative in the Central GOA as assigned on a CQ permit.

Rockfish legal landings means groundfish caught and retained in compliance with state and Federal regulations in effect at that time unless harvested and then processed as meal, and—

(1) For catcher vessels: The harvest of groundfish from the Central GOA regulatory area that is offloaded and recorded on a State of Alaska fish ticket during the directed fishing season for that rockfish primary species as established in Tables 28a and 28b to this part.

(2) For catcher/processors: The harvest of groundfish from the Central GOA regulatory area that is recorded on a weekly production report based on harvests during the directed fishing season for that rockfish primary species as established in Table 28a to this part.

Rockfish processor means a shoreside processor with a Federal processor permit that receives groundfish harvested under the authority of a CQ permit.

Rockfish Program means the program implemented under subpart G to this part to manage Rockfish Program fisheries.

Rockfish Program fisheries means one of following fisheries under the Rockfish Program:

(1) A rockfish cooperative in the catcher/processor sector;

(2) A rockfish cooperative in the catcher vessel sector; and

(3) The rockfish entry level longline fishery.

Rockfish Program official record means information used by NMFS necessary to determine eligibility to participate in the Rockfish Program and assign specific harvest privileges or limits to Rockfish Program participants.

Rockfish Program species means the following species that are managed under the authority of the Rockfish Program:

(1) Rockfish primary species means northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and dusky rockfish in the Central GOA regulatory area.

(2) Rockfish secondary species means the following species in the Central GOA regulatory area:

(i) Sablefish not allocated to the IFQ Program;

(ii) Thornyhead rockfish;

(iii) Pacific cod for the catcher vessel sector;

(iv) Rougheye rockfish for the catcher/processor sector; and

(v) Shortraker rockfish for the catcher/processor sector.

(3) Rockfish non-allocated species means all groundfish species other than Rockfish Program species.

Rockfish quota share (QS) means a permit expressed in numerical units, the amount of which is based on rockfish legal landings for purposes of qualifying for the Rockfish Program and that are assigned to an LLP license.

Rockfish QS pool means the sum of rockfish QS units established for the Rockfish Program fishery based on the Rockfish Program official record.

Rockfish QS unit means a measure of QS based on rockfish legal landings.

Rockfish sector means:

(1) Catcher/processor sector: Those rockfish eligible harvesters who hold an LLP license with a catcher/processor designation and who are eligible to receive rockfish QS that may result in CQ that may be harvested and processed at sea.

(2) Catcher vessel sector: Those rockfish eligible harvesters who hold an LLP license who are eligible to receive rockfish QS that may result in CQ that may not be harvested and processed at sea.

Rockfish sideboard fisheries means fisheries that are assigned a rockfish sideboard limit that may be harvested by participants in the Rockfish Program.

Rockfish sideboard limit means:

(1) The maximum amount of northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and dusky rockfish that may be harvested in the Rockfish Program as specified in the sideboard provisions under § 679.82(e), as applicable; and

(2) The maximum amount of halibut PSC that may be used in the Rockfish Program as specified in the sideboard provisions under § 679.82(e), as applicable.

Rockfish sideboard ratio means a portion of a rockfish sideboard limit for a groundfish fishery that is assigned as specified under § 679.82(e).

Rockfish standard ex-vessel value means the total U.S. dollar amount of rockfish CQ groundfish landings as calculated by multiplying the number of landed rockfish CQ equivalent pounds by the appropriate rockfish standard price determined by the Regional Administrator.

Rockfish standard price means a price, expressed in U.S. dollars per rockfish CQ equivalent pound, for landed rockfish CQ groundfish determined annually by the Regional Administrator.

Round-weight equivalent means the weight of groundfish calculated by dividing the weight of the primary product made from that groundfish by the PRR for that primary product as listed in Table 3 to this part, or, if not listed, the weight of groundfish calculated by dividing the weight of a primary product by the standard PRR as determined using the best available evidence on a case-by-case basis.

Sablefish (black cod) means Anoplopoma fimbria. (See also IFQ sablefish; sablefish as a prohibited species at § 679.21(a)(5); and sablefish as a prohibited species at § 679.24(c)(2)(ii)).

Sablefish CDQ fishing means fishing using fixed gear, retaining sablefish CDQ, and that results in the retained catch of sablefish CDQ plus sablefish IFQ being greater than the retained catch of any other groundfish species or species group.

Salmon means the following species:

(1) Chinook (or king) salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha);

(2) Coho (or silver) salmon (O. kisutch);

(3) Pink (or humpback) salmon (O. gorbuscha);

(4) Sockeye (or red) salmon (O. nerka); and

(5) Chum (or dog) salmon (O. keta).

Salmon bycatch incentive plan agreement (IPA) is a voluntary private contract, approved by NMFS under § 679.21(f)(12), that establishes incentives for participants to avoid Chinook salmon and chum salmon bycatch while directed fishing for pollock in the BS.

Salmon Management Area means those waters of the EEZ off Alaska (see figures 22 and 23 to part 679) under the authority of the Salmon FMP. The Salmon Management Area is divided into three areas: the East Area, the West Area, and the Cook Inlet EEZ Area:

(1) The East Area means the area of the EEZ in the Gulf of Alaska east of the longitude of Cape Suckling (143°53.6′ W).

(2) The West Area means the area of the EEZ off Alaska in the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and the Gulf of Alaska west of the longitude of Cape Suckling (143°53.6′ W), but excludes the Cook Inlet EEZ Area, Prince William Sound Area, and the Alaska Peninsula Area. The Prince William Sound Area and the Alaska Peninsula Area are shown in figure 23 to this part and described as:

(i) The Prince William Sound Area means the EEZ shoreward of a line that starts at 60°16.8′ N and 146°15.24′ W and extends southeast to 59°42.66′ N and 144°36.20′ W and a line that starts at 59°43.28′ N and 144°31.50′ W and extends northeast to 59°56.4′ N and 143°53.6′ W.

(ii) The Alaska Peninsula Area means the EEZ shoreward of a line at 54°22.5′ N from 164°27.1′ W to 163°1.2′ W and a line at 162°24.05′ W from 54°30.1′ N to 54°27.75′ N.

(3) The Cook Inlet EEZ Area, shown in figure 22 to this part, means the EEZ of Cook Inlet north of a line at 59°46.15′ N.

Salmon shoreside processor means any person or vessel that receives, purchases, or arranges to purchase, and processes unprocessed salmon harvested in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area, except a Registered Salmon Receiver.

Scallop(s) means any species of the family Pectinidae, including, without limitation, weathervane scallops (Patinopectin caurinus).

Scallop license means a license issued by NMFS that authorizes the license holder to catch and retain scallops pursuant to the conditions specified on the license.

Scallop Registration Area H (Cook Inlet) means all Federal waters of the GOA west of the longitude of Cape Fairfield (148°50′ W. long.) and north of the latitude of Cape Douglas (58°52′ N. lat.).

Sculpins (see Table 2c to this part and § 679.20(i)).

Seabird means those bird species that habitually obtain their food from the sea below the low water mark.

Seabird avoidance gear (see §§ 679.24(e), 679.42(b)(2), and Table 19 to this part).

Set means a string of longline gear, a string of pots, or a group of pots with individual pots deployed and retrieved in the water in a similar location with similar soak time. In the case of pot gear, when the pots in a string are hauled more than once in the same position, a new set is created each time the string is retrieved and re-deployed. A set includes a test set, unsuccessful harvest, or when gear is not working and is pulled in, even if no fish are harvested.

Shallow water flatfish (see Table 10 to this part pursuant to § 679.20(c).)

Shoreside processor means any person or vessel that receives, purchases, or arranges to purchase, unprocessed groundfish, except catcher/processors, motherships, buying stations, tender vessels, restaurants, or persons receiving groundfish for personal consumption or bait.

Shoreside processor electronic logbook report (SPELR) (discontinued, see definition of “eLandings” under this section).

Shucking machine means any mechanical device that automatically removes the meat or the adductor muscle from the shell.

Sideboard ratio for purposes of the Rockfish Program means a portion of a sideboard limit for a groundfish fishery that is assigned to the catcher vessel sector or catcher/processor sector based on the catch history of vessels in that sector.

Single geographic location (see § 679.4(l)(5)(iii)).

Sitka Pinnacles Marine Reserve means an area totaling 2.5 square nm in the GOA, off Cape Edgecumbe, in Statistical Area 650. See Figure 18 to this part.

Southeast Outside District of the GOA means that part of the Eastern GOA Regulatory Area contained in Statistical Area 650 (see Figure 3 to this part).

Squids (see Table 2c to this part and § 679.20(i)).

St. Lawrence Island Habitat Conservation Area means a habitat protection area specified at Table 45 to this part.

St. Matthew Island Habitat Conservation Area means a habitat protection area specified at Table 46 to this part.

State means the State of Alaska.

Stationary floating processor (SFP) means:

(1) A vessel of the United States operating as a processor in Alaska State waters that remains anchored or otherwise remains stationary in a single geographic location while receiving or processing groundfish harvested in the GOA or BSAI; and

(2) In the Western and Central GOA Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630, a vessel that has not operated as a catcher/processor, CQE floating processor, or mothership in the GOA during the same fishing year; however, an SFP can operate as catcher/processor or mothership in the BSAI and an SFP in the Western and Central GOA during the same fishing year.

Statistical area means the part of any reporting area defined in Figures 1 and 3 to this part, contained in the EEZ.

Stretched mesh size means the distance between opposite knots of a four-sided mesh when opposite knots are pulled tautly to remove slack.

Subsistence fishing for purposes of fishing in the Arctic Management Area means the harvest of Arctic fish and Pacific salmon for non-commercial, long-term, customary and traditional use necessary to maintain the life of the taker or those who depend upon the taker to provide them with such subsistence.

Superexclusive registration area means any State of Alaska designated registration area within the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area where, if a vessel is registered to fish for crab, that vessel is prohibited from fishing for crab in any other registration area during that registration year.

Support vessel means any vessel that is used in support of other vessels regulated under this part, including, but not limited to, supplying a fishing vessel with water, fuel, provisions, fishing equipment, fish processing equipment or other supplies, or transporting processed fish. The term “support vessel” does not include processor vessels or tender vessels.

Suspending official, for purposes of subpart E of this part, means a designee authorized by the Regional Administrator to impose suspension.

Suspension, as used in § 679.53, means action taken by a suspending official under § 679.53(c) to suspend certification of observers or observer providers temporarily until a final decision is made with respect to decertification.

Tagged halibut or sablefish (see § 679.40(g)).

Tanner crab means Chionoecetes species or hybrids of these species.

Target species are those species or species groups for which a TAC is specified pursuant to § 679.20(a)(2).

Tax-exempt organization means an organization that received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service recognizing tax exemption under 26 CFR part 1 (§§ 1.501 to 1.640).

Tender vessel means a vessel that is used to transport unprocessed fish or shellfish received from another vessel to an associated processor.

Ten percent or greater direct or indirect ownership interest for purposes of the Amendment 80 Program means a relationship between two or more persons in which one directly or indirectly owns or controls a 10 percent or greater interest in, or otherwise controls, another person; or a third person which directly or indirectly owns or controls, or otherwise controls a 10 percent or greater interest in both. For the purpose of this definition, the following terms are further defined:

(1) Person. A person is a person as defined in this section.

(2) Indirect interest. An indirect interest is one that passes through one or more intermediate persons. A person's percentage of indirect interest in a second person is equal to the person's percentage of direct interest in an intermediate person multiplied by the intermediate person's direct or indirect interest in the second person.

(3) Controls a 10 percent or greater interest. A person controls a 10 percent or greater interest in a second person if the first person:

(i) Controls a 10 percent ownership share of the second person; or

(ii) Controls 10 percent or more of the voting or controlling stock of the second person.

(4) Otherwise controls. A person otherwise controls another person, if the first person has:

(i) The right to direct, or does direct, the business of the other person;

(ii) The right in the ordinary course of business to limit the actions of, or replace, or does limit or replace, the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the other person;

(iii) The right to direct, or does direct, the Rockfish Program fishery processing activities of the other person;

(iv) The right to restrict, or does restrict, the day-to-day business activities and management policies of the other person through loan covenants;

(v) The right to derive, or does derive, either directly, or through a minority shareholder or partner, and in favor of the other person, a significantly disproportionate amount of the economic benefit from the processing of fish by that other person;

(vi) The right to control, or does control, the management of, or to be a controlling factor in, the other person;

(vii) The right to cause, or does cause, the purchase or sale of fish processed by the other person;

(viii) Absorbs all of the costs and normal business risks associated with ownership and operation of the other person; or

(ix) Has the ability through any other means whatsoever to control the other person.

Transfer means:

(1) Groundfish fisheries of the GOA and BSAI. Any loading, offloading, shipment or receipt of any IFQ sablefish or other groundfish product by a mothership, catcher/processor, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor, including quantities transferred inside or outside the EEZ, within any state's territorial waters, within the internal waters of any state, at any shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or at any offsite meal reduction plant.

(2) IFQ halibut and CDQ halibut fisheries. Any loading, offloading, or shipment of any IFQ halibut or CDQ halibut product including quantities transferred inside or outside the EEZ, within any state's territorial waters, within the internal waters of any state, at any shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or at any offsite meal reduction plant.

Trawl EM category means catcher vessels and tender vessels with a NMFS-approved VMP that are required to use an EM system as specified under § 679.51(g)(1) when those vessels are directed fishing for, or receiving deliveries of, pollock.

Trawl EM Incentive Plan Agreement (TEM IPA) means a voluntary private contract in writing, approved by NMFS under § 679.57, that establishes incentives for partial coverage catcher vessels in the trawl EM category to keep catch within the limits to which vessels not in the trawl EM category are subject. These limits include the catcher vessel harvest limit for pollock in the Gulf of Alaska (§ 679.7(b)(2)) and MRAs (§ 679.20(e)).

Trawl test areas (see Figure 7 to this part and § 679.24(d)).

Unlisted AFA catcher/processor means an AFA catcher/processor permitted to harvest BS pollock under § 679.4(l)(2)(ii).

Unrestricted AFA inshore processor means an AFA inshore processor permitted to harvest pollock under § 679.4(l)(5)(i)(A).

Unsorted codend is a codend of groundfish that is not brought on board a catcher vessel and that is delivered to a mothership, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor without the potential for sorting. No other instance of catcher vessel harvest is considered an “unsorted codend.” All other catch that does not meet this definition is considered “presorted” whether or not sorting occurs.

U.S. citizen means:

(1) General usage. Any individual who is a citizen of the United States.

(2) IFQ program. (i) Any individual who is a citizen of the United States at the time of application for QS; or

(ii) Any corporation, partnership, association, or other non-individual entity that would have qualified to document a fishing vessel as a vessel of the United States during the QS qualifying years of 1988, 1989, and 1990.

U.S.-Russian Boundary means the seaward boundary of Russian waters as defined in Figure 1 to this part.

User means, for purposes of IERS and its components including eLandings and tLandings, an individual representative of a Registered Buyer; a Registered Crab Receiver; a mothership or catcher/processor that is required to have a Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP) under § 679.4; a shoreside processor or SFP and mothership that receives groundfish from vessels issued an FFP under § 679.4; any shoreside processor or SFP that is required to have a Federal processor permit under § 679.4; and his or her designee(s).

User identification (UserID), for purposes of IERS and eLandings, means the string of letters and/or numbers that identifies the individual and gives him or her authorization to view and submit reports for specific operations or to otherwise use eLandings. To facilitate the management of Users and privileges and to provide for data security, a separate UserID is issued to each individual.

Vessel Activity Report (VAR) (see § 679.4(k)).

Vessel length category means the length category of a vessel, based on the assigned MLOA, used to determine eligibility.

Vessel Monitoring Plan (VMP) means the document that describes how fishing operations on the vessel will be conducted and how the EM system and associated equipment will be configured to meet the data collection objectives and purpose of the EM program. VMPs are required under § 679.51(f).

Vessel operations category (see § 679.5(b)(3)).

Walrus Protection Areas (see § 679.22(a)(4)).

Waters of Cook Inlet means, for the purposes of §§ 679.28(f)(6)(x) and 679.117(b)(1)(xiv), all Federal waters and Alaska State waters north of a line from Cape Douglas (58°51.10′ N) to Point Adam (59°15.27′ N).

Week-ending date means the last day of the weekly reporting period which ends on Saturday at 2400 hours, A.l.t., except during the last week of each calendar year, when it ends at 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31.

Weekly production report (WPR) is no longer required (see § 679.5(e)(9) and (10)).

Weekly reporting period means a time period that begins at 0001 hours, A.l.t., Sunday morning (except during the first week of each year, when it starts on January 1) and ends at 2400 hours, A.l.t., the following Saturday night (except during the last week of each year, when it ends on December 31).

West Yakutat District of the GOA means that part of the Eastern GOA Regulatory Area contained in Statistical Area 640 (see Figure 3 to this part).

Western Aleutian District means that part of the Aleutian Islands Subarea contained in Statistical Area 543 (see Figure 1 to this part).

Western GOA Regulatory Area means that portion of the GOA EEZ that is contained in Statistical Area 610 (see Figure 3 to this part).

Wing tip means the point where adjacent breast lines intersect or where a breast line intersects with the fishing line.

(a) Foreign fishing for groundfish. Regulations governing U.S. nationals fishing in the Russian fisheries are set forth in part 300 of chapter III of this title.

(b) Domestic fishing for groundfish. (1) The conservation and management of groundfish in waters of the territorial sea and internal waters of the State of Alaska are governed by the Alaska Administrative Code at 5 AAC Chapter 28 and by the Alaska Statutes at Title 16.

(2) Alaska Administrative Code (5 AAC 39.130) governs reporting and permitting requirements using ADF&G “Intent to Operate” and “Fish Tickets.”

(c) Halibut. Additional regulations governing the conservation and management of halibut are set forth in subpart E of part 300 of chapter III of this title.

(d) King and Tanner crabs. Additional regulations governing conservation and management of king crabs and Tanner crabs in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area are contained in 50 CFR part 680 and in Alaska Statutes at A.S. 16 and Alaska Administrative Code at 5 AAC Chapters 34, 35, and 39.

(e) Incidental catch of marine mammals. Regulations governing exemption permits and the recordkeeping and reporting of the incidental take of marine mammals are set forth in § 216.24 and part 229 of this title.

(f) Domestic fishing for salmon. Management of the salmon commercial troll fishery and recreational fishery in the East Area of the Salmon Management Area, defined at § 679.2, is delegated to the State of Alaska. Regulations governing the commercial drift gillnet salmon fishery and recreational salmon fishery in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area, defined at § 679.2, are set forth in subpart J of this part.

(g) Scallops. Additional regulations governing conservation and management of scallops off Alaska are contained in Alaska Statutes A.S. 16 and Alaska Administrative Code at 5 AAC Chapter 38.

(a) Requirements. Only persons who are U.S. citizens are authorized to receive or hold permits under this section, with the exception that an IFQ hired master permit or a CDQ hired master permit need not be held by a U.S. citizen.

(1) What permits are available? Various types of permits are issued for programs codified at 50 CFR parts 300 and 679. These permits are listed in the following table. The date of effectiveness for each permit is given along with certain reference paragraphs for further information.

(2) Permit and logbook required by participant and fishery. For the various types of permits issued, refer to § 679.5 for recordkeeping and reporting requirements. For subsistence and GAF permits, refer to § 300.65 of this title for recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

(3) Permit application—(i) Obtain and submit an application. A person may obtain an application for a new permit or for renewal or revision of an existing permit for any of the permits under this section and must submit forms to NMFS as instructed in application instructions. With appropriate software, all permit applications may be completed online and printed from the Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

(ii) Deficient application. Upon receipt of an incomplete or improperly completed permit application, the Program Administrator, RAM, will notify the applicant of the deficiency in the permit application. If the applicant fails to correct the deficiency, the permit will not be issued. No permit will be issued to an applicant until a complete application is received.

(iii) Separate permit. The operator, manager, Registered Buyer, or Registered Crab Receiver must obtain a separate permit for each applicant, facility, or vessel, as appropriate to each Federal permit in this section.

(iv) The information requested on the application must be typed or printed legibly.

(v) All permits are issued free of charge.

(4) [Reserved]

(5) Alteration. No person may alter, erase, mutilate, or forge any permit or document issued under this section. Any such permit or document that is intentionally altered, erased, mutilated, or forged is invalid.

(6) Disclosure. NMFS will maintain a list of permitted processors that may be disclosed for public inspection.

(7) Sanctions and denials. Procedures governing sanctions and denials are found at subpart D of 15 CFR part 904. Such procedures are required for enforcement purposes, not administrative purposes.

(8) Harvesting privilege. Quota shares, permits, or licenses issued pursuant to this part are neither a right to the resource nor any interest that is subject to the “takings” provision of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Rather, such quota shares, permits, or licenses represent only a harvesting privilege that may be revoked or amended subject to the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law.

(9) Permit surrender. (i) The Regional Administrator will recognize the voluntary surrender of a permit issued in this section, if a permit may be surrendered and if it is submitted by the person named on the permit, owner of record, or authorized representative.

(ii) Submit the original permit, except for an FFP or an FPP, to NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802. For surrender of an FFP and FPP, respectively, refer to paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) and (f)(3)(ii) of this section.

(iii) Objective written evidence is considered proof of a timely application. The responsibility remains with the sender to prove when the application to amend or to surrender a permit was received by NMFS (i.e., by certified mail or other method that provides written evidence that NMFS Alaska Region received it).

(iv) For applications delivered by hand delivery or carrier only, the receiving date of signature by NMFS staff is the date the application was received. If the application is submitted by fax or mail, the receiving date of the application is the date stamped received by NMFS.

(b) Federal fisheries permit (FFP)—(1) Requirements. (i) No vessel of the United States may be used to retain groundfish in the GOA or BSAI or engage in any fishery in the GOA or BSAI that requires retention of groundfish, unless the owner or authorized representative first obtains an FFP for the vessel, issued under this part. An FFP is issued without charge. Only persons who are U.S. citizens are authorized to receive or hold an FFP.

(ii) Each vessel within the GOA or BSAI that retains groundfish must have a legible copy of a valid FFP on board at all times.

(2) Vessel operations categories. An FFP authorizes a vessel owner or authorized representative to deploy a vessel to conduct operations in the GOA or BSAI under the following categories: Catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, tender vessel, or support vessel. A vessel may not be operated in a category other than as specified on the FFP, except that a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, or tender vessel may be operated as a support vessel.

(3) Duration—(i) Length of permit effectiveness. NMFS issues FFPs on a three-year cycle and an FFP is in effect from the effective date through the expiration date, as indicated on the FFP, unless the FFP is revoked, suspended, surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section, or modified under § 600.735 or § 600.740 of this chapter.

(ii) Surrendered permit—(A) An FFP may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. Except as provided under paragraphs (b)(3)(ii)(B) and (C) of this section, if surrendered, an FFP may be reissued in the same fishing year in which it was surrendered.

(B) For the BSAI, NMFS will not reissue a surrendered FFP to the owner or authorized representative of a vessel named on an FFP that has been issued with endorsements for catcher/processor or catcher vessel operation type; trawl, pot, and/or hook-and-line gear type; and the BSAI area, until after the expiration date of the surrendered FFP as initially issued.

(C) For the GOA, NMFS will not reissue a surrendered FFP to the owner or authorized representative of a vessel named on an FFP that has been issued a GOA area endorsement and any combination of endorsements for catcher/processor operation type, catcher vessel operation type, trawl gear type, hook-and-line gear type, pot gear type, and/or jig gear type, until after the expiration date of the surrendered FFP.

(D) An owner or authorized representative, who applied for and received an FFP, must notify NMFS of the intention to surrender the FFP by submitting an FFP application found at the NMFS Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov and indicating on the application that surrender of the permit is requested. Upon receipt and processing of an FFP surrender application, NMFS will withdraw the FFP from active status in the FFP data bases.

(iii) Amended permit—(A) An owner or authorized representative who applied for and received an FFP, must notify NMFS of any change in the permit information by submitting an FFP application found at the NMFS Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The owner or authorized representative must submit the application form as instructed on the form. Except as provided under paragraphs (b)(3)(iii)(B) and (C) of this section, upon receipt and approval of an application form for permit amendment, NMFS will issue an amended FFP.

(B) In the BSAI, NMFS will not approve an application to amend an FFP to remove a catcher/processor or catcher vessel operation type endorsement, trawl gear type endorsement, pot gear type endorsement, hook-and-line gear type endorsement, or BSAI area endorsement from an FFP that has been issued with endorsements for catcher/processor or catcher vessel operation type, trawl, pot, or hook-and-line gear type, and the BSAI area.

(C) In the GOA, NMFS will not approve an application to amend an FFP to remove endorsements for catcher/processor operation type, catcher vessel operation type, trawl gear type, hook-and-line gear type, pot gear type, or jig gear type, and the GOA area.

(D) If the application for an amended FFP required under this section designates a change or addition of a vessel operations category or any other endorsement, a legible copy of the valid, amended FFP must be on board the vessel before the new or modified type of operation begins.

(E) Selections for species endorsements will remain valid until an FFP is amended to remove those endorsements or the FFP with these endorsements is surrendered or revoked.

(4) Submittal of application. NMFS will process a request for an FFP provided that the application form contains the information specified on the form, with all required fields accurately completed and all required documentation attached. This application form must be submitted to NMFS using the methods described on the form. The vessel owner must sign and date the application form certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete. If the owner is not an individual, the authorized representative must sign and date the application form. An application form for an FFP will be provided by NMFS or is available from NMFS Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The acceptable submittal methods will be described on the application form.

(5) Issuance. (i) Except as provided in subpart D of 15 CFR part 904, upon receipt of a properly completed permit application, the Regional Administrator will issue an FFP required by this paragraph (b).

(ii) The Regional Administrator will send an FFP with the appropriate logbooks to the owner or authorized representative, as provided under § 679.5.

(iii) NMFS will reissue an FFP to the owner or authorized representative who holds an FFP issued for a vessel if that vessel is subject to sideboard provisions as described under § 679.82(d) through (f).

(iv) NMFS will reissue an FFP to the owner or authorized representative who holds an FFP issued to an Amendment 80 vessel.

(6) Transfer. An FFP issued under this paragraph (b) is not transferable or assignable and is valid only for the vessel for which it is issued.

(7) Inspection. A legible copy of a valid FFP issued under this paragraph (b) must be carried on board the vessel at all times operations are conducted under this type of permit and must be presented for inspection upon the request of any authorized officer.

(c) [Reserved]

(d) IFQ permits, IFQ hired master permits, and Registered Buyer permits. The permits described in this section are required in addition to the permit and licensing requirements prescribed in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to § 300.62 of this title and in the permit requirements of this section.

(1) IFQ permit. (i) An IFQ permit authorizes the person identified on the permit to harvest IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish from a specified IFQ regulatory area at any time during an open fishing season during the fishing year for which the IFQ permit is issued until the amount harvested is equal to the amount specified under the permit, or until the permit is revoked, suspended, surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section, or modified under 15 CFR part 904.

(ii) A legible copy of any IFQ permit that specifies the IFQ regulatory area and vessel length overall from which IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish may be harvested by the IFQ permit holder must be carried on board the vessel used by the permitted person to harvest IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish at all times that such fish are retained on board.

(iii) An IFQ permit may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. An annual IFQ permit will not be reissued in the same fishing year in which it was surrendered, but a new annual IFQ permit may be issued to the quota share holder of record in a subsequent fishing year.

(iv) An RFQ permit account identifies the amount of RFQ authorized for use by charter vessel anglers in Area 2C or Area 3A. The number of pounds of RFQ allocated to the RFQ permit account will be added to the annual guided sport catch limit under the catch sharing plan (described at 50 CFR 300.65(c)) for the appropriate IFQ regulatory area, Area 2C or Area 3A.

(2) IFQ hired master permit. (i) An IFQ hired master permit authorizes the individual identified on the IFQ hired master permit to land IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish for debit against the specified IFQ permit until the IFQ hired master permit expires, or is revoked, suspended, surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section, or modified under 15 CFR part 904, or cancelled on request of the IFQ permit holder.

(ii) A legible copy of an IFQ hired master permit issued to an eligible individual in accordance with § 679.42(i) and (j) by the Regional Administrator must be onboard the vessel that harvests IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish at all times that such fish are retained onboard by a hired master. Except as specified in § 679.42(d), an individual that is issued an IFQ hired master permit must remain onboard the vessel used to harvest IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish with that IFQ hired master permit during the IFQ fishing trip and at the landing site during all IFQ landings.

(iii) Each IFQ hired master permit issued by the Regional Administrator will display an IFQ permit number and the name of the individual authorized by the IFQ permit holder to land IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish for debit against the IFQ permit holder's IFQ. In addition, IFQ hired master permits will also display the ADF&G vessel identification number of the authorized vessel.

(iv) An IFQ hired master permit may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. An IFQ hired master permit may be reissued to the permit holder of record in the same fishing year in which it was surrendered.

(3) Registered Buyer permit. (i) A Registered Buyer permit authorizes the person identified on the permit to receive and make an IFQ landing by an IFQ permit holder or IFQ hired master permit holder or to receive and make a CDQ halibut landing by a CDQ permit holder or CDQ hired master permit holder at any time during the fishing year for which it is issued until the Registered Buyer permit expires, or is revoked, suspended, surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section, or modified under 15 CFR part 904.

(ii) A Registered Buyer permit is required of:

(A) Any person who receives IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish from the person(s) who harvested the fish;

(B) Any person who harvests IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish and transfers such fish in a dockside sale, outside of an IFQ regulatory area, or outside the State of Alaska.

(C) A vessel operator who submits a Departure Report (see § 679.5(l)(4)).

(iii) A Registered Buyer permit is issued on an annual cycle defined as March 1 through the end of February of the next calendar year, to persons that have a Registered Buyer application approved by the Regional Administrator.

(iv) For the Registered Buyer application to be considered complete, all fees due to NMFS under § 679.55 at the time of application must be paid.

(v) A Registered Buyer permit is in effect from the first day of March in the year for which it is issued or from the date of issuance, whichever is later, through the end of the current annual cycle, unless it is revoked, suspended, surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section, or modified under § 600.735 or § 600.740 of this chapter.

(vi) A Registered Buyer permit may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. A Registered Buyer permit may be reissued to the permit holder of record in the same fishing year in which it was surrendered.

(4) Issuance. The Regional Administrator will issue IFQ permits and IFQ hired master permits annually or at other times as needed to accommodate transfers, revocations, appeals resolution, and other changes in QS or IFQ holdings, and designation of masters under § 679.42.

(5) Transfer. The quota shares and IFQ issued under this section are not transferable, except as provided under § 679.41. IFQ hired master permits and Registered Buyer permits issued under this paragraph (d) are not transferable.

(6) Inspection—(i) IFQ permit and IFQ hired master permit. (A) The IFQ permit holder must present a legible copy of the IFQ permit for inspection on request of any authorized officer or Registered Buyer receiving IFQ species.

(B) The IFQ hired master permit holder must present a legible copy of the IFQ permit and a legible copy of the IFQ hired master permit for inspection on request of any authorized officer or Registered Buyer receiving IFQ species.

(ii) Registered Buyer permit. A legible copy of the Registered Buyer permit must be present at the location of an IFQ landing or CDQ halibut landing and must be made available by an individual representing the Registered Buyer for inspection on request of any authorized officer.

(7) Validity. An IFQ permit issued under this part is valid only if the IFQ permit holder has paid all IFQ fees that are due as a result of final agency action as specified in §§ 679.45 and 679.5(l)(7)(ii).

(e) Halibut CDQ permits and CDQ hired master permits—(1) Requirements. (i) The CDQ group, the operator of the vessel, the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, and the Registered Buyer must comply with the requirements of this paragraph (e) for the catch of CDQ halibut.

(ii) The CDQ group, vessel owner or operator, and Registered Buyer are subject to all of the IFQ prohibitions at § 679.7(f).

(2) Halibut CDQ permit. The CDQ group must obtain a halibut CDQ permit issued by the Regional Administrator. The vessel operator must have a legible copy of a halibut CDQ permit on any fishing vessel operated by, or for, a CDQ group that will have halibut CDQ on board and must make the permit available for inspection by an authorized officer. A halibut CDQ permit is non-transferable and is issued annually until revoked, suspended, surrendered, or modified. A halibut CDQ permit may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. A halibut CDQ permit will not be reissued in the same fishing year in which it was surrendered, but a new annual halibut CDQ permit may be issued in a subsequent fishing year to the CDQ group entitled to a CDQ halibut allocation.

(3) An individual must have on board the vessel a legible copy of his or her halibut CDQ hired master permit issued by the Regional Administrator while harvesting and landing any CDQ halibut. Each halibut CDQ hired master permit will identify a CDQ permit number and the individual authorized by the CDQ group to land halibut for debit against the CDQ group's halibut CDQ. A halibut CDQ hired master permit may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. A halibut CDQ hired master permit may be reissued to the permit holder of record in the same fishing year in which it was surrendered.

(4) Alteration. No person may alter, erase, mutilate, or forge a halibut CDQ permit, hired master permit, Registered Buyer permit, or any valid or current permit or document issued under this part. Any such permit or document that has been intentionally altered, erased, mutilated, or forged is invalid.

(5) Landings. A person may land CDQ halibut only if he or she has a valid halibut CDQ hired master permit. The person(s) holding the halibut CDQ hired master permit and the Registered buyer must comply with the requirements of § 679.5(g) and (l)(1) through (6).

(f) Federal processor permit (FPP)—(1) Requirement. No shoreside processor of the United States, SFP, or CQE floating processor defined at § 679.2 may receive, process, purchase, or arrange to purchase unprocessed groundfish harvested in the GOA or BSAI, unless the owner or authorized representative first obtains an FPP issued under this part. A processor may not be operated in a category other than as specified on the FPP. An FPP is issued without charge.

(2) FPP application. To obtain, amend, renew, or surrender an FPP, the owner or authorized representative must complete an FPP application form per the instructions at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

(i) Fees. For the FPP application to be considered complete, all fees due to NMFS from the owner or authorized representative of a shoreside processor or SFP or person named on a Registered Buyer permit subject to the observer fee as specified at § 679.55(c) at the time of application must be paid.

(ii) Signature. The owner or authorized representative of the shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor must sign and date the application form, certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief. If the application form is completed by an authorized representative, proof of authorization must accompany the application form.

(3) Duration—(i) Length of effectiveness. An FPP is in effect from the effective date through the date of permit expiration, unless it is revoked, suspended, surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section, or modified under § 600.735 or § 600.740 of this chapter.

(ii) Surrendered permit. (A) An FPP may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. An FPP may be reissued to the permit holder of record in the same fishing year in which it was surrendered.

(B) An owner or authorized representative, who applied for and received an FPP, must notify NMFS of the intention to surrender the FPP by submitting an FPP application form found at the NMFS Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov and indicating on the application form that surrender of the FPP is requested. Upon receipt and processing of an FPP surrender application form, NMFS will withdraw the FPP from active status in permit data bases.

(iii) Amended permit—(A) Requirement. An owner or authorized representative, who applied for and received an FPP, must notify NMFS of any change in the permit information by submitting an FPP application form found at the NMFS Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The owner or authorized representative must submit the application form as instructed on the form. Upon receipt and approval of an FPP amendment application form, NMFS will issue an amended FPP.

(B) GOA Inshore Processing endorsement. A GOA inshore processing endorsement is required in order to process GOA inshore pollock and Eastern GOA inshore Pacific cod. If an SFP owner or authorized representative holds an FPP with a GOA Inshore Processing endorsement, the SFP is prohibited from processing GOA pollock and GOA Pacific cod in more than one single geographic location during a fishing year and is also prohibited from operating as a catcher/processor in the BSAI. Once issued, a GOA Inshore Processing endorsement cannot be surrendered for the duration of a fishing year.

(C) CQE Floating Processor endorsement. If a vessel owner or authorized representative holds an FPP with a GOA Inshore Processing endorsement in order to process Pacific cod within the marine municipal boundaries of CQE communities in the Western or Central GOA, the vessel must not meet the definition of an SFP and must not have harvested groundfish off Alaska in the same calendar year.

(D) Vessels are prohibited from holding both a GOA CQE Floating Processor endorsement and a GOA SFP endorsement during the same calendar year.

(4) Transfer. An FPP issued under this paragraph (f) is not transferable or assignable and is valid only for the processor for which it is issued.

(5) Inspection. A legible copy of a valid FPP issued under this paragraph (f) must be on site at the shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor at all times and must be presented for inspection upon the request of any authorized officer.

(g) Scallop LLP—(1) General requirements. (i) In addition to the permit and licensing requirements prescribed in this part, each vessel within the EEZ off Alaska that is catching and retaining scallops, must have an original scallop LLP license onboard at all times it is catching and retaining scallops. This scallop LLP license, issued by NMFS, authorizes the person named on the license to catch and retain scallops in compliance with State of Alaska regulations and only with a vessel that does not exceed the maximum LOA specified on the license and the gear designation specified on the license.

(ii) A scallop LLP license may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. A surrendered scallop LLP license will cease to exist and will not be subsequently reissued.

(2) Qualifications for a scallop LLP license. A scallop LLP license will be issued to an eligible applicant who:

(i) Is a qualified person;

(ii) Was named on a State of Alaska scallop moratorium permit or Federal scallop moratorium permit on February 8, 1999;

(iii) Used the moratorium permit held on February 8, 1999, to make legal landings of scallops in each of any 2 calendar years during the qualification period beginning January 1, 1996, through October 9, 1998; and

(iv) Submitted a complete application for a scallop license during the application period specified pursuant to paragraph (g)(4) of this section.

(3) Scallop license conditions and endorsements. A scallop license authorizes the license holder to catch and retain scallops only if the vessel length and gear used do not exceed the vessel length and gear endorsements specified on the license. These endorsements will be determined as follows.

(i) The MLOA specified on the scallop license is equal to the length overall on February 8, 1999, of the longest vessel that was authorized by a Federal or State of Alaska Scallop Moratorium Permit to harvest scallops and used by the eligible applicant to make legal landings of scallops during the scallop LLP qualification period, as specified at § 679.4(g)(2)(iii) of this part.

(ii) The gear specified on a scallop license will be restricted to two dredges with a combined width of no more than 20 feet (6.1 m) in all areas if the eligible applicant was a moratorium permit holder with a Scallop Registration Area H (Cook Inlet) endorsement and did not make a legal landing of scallops caught outside Area H during the qualification period specified in paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of this section.

(4) Application for a scallop license—(i) General. The Regional Administrator will issue a scallop license to an applicant if a complete application is submitted by or on behalf of the applicant during the specified application period, and if that applicant meets all the criteria for eligibility in this part. An application that is postmarked or hand delivered after the ending date for the application period for the scallop LLP specified in paragraph § 679.4(g)(4)(ii) will be denied. An application form will be sent to the last known address of the person identified as an eligible applicant by the official LLP record. An application form may be requested from the Regional Administrator.

(ii) Application Period. January 16, 2001, through February 12, 2001.

(iii) Contents of application. To be complete, an application for a scallop license must be signed and dated by the applicant, or the individual representing the applicant, and contain the following information, as applicable:

(A) Scallop Moratorium Permit number under which legal landings of scallops were made during the qualification period specified in paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of this section;

(B) Name, business address, telephone number, FAX number, and social security number or tax ID number of the applicant, and whether the applicant is a U.S. citizen or a U.S. business;

(C) Name of the managing company, if any;

(D) Evidence of legal landings in the qualifying years and registration areas;

(E) For the vessel(s) being used as the basis for eligibility for a license, the name, state registration number (e.g., ADF&G number), the USCG documentation number, and valid evidence of the LOA on February 8, 1999, of the longest vessel used by the applicant during the qualification period specified in paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of this section.

(iv) Successor-in-interest. If an applicant is applying as the successor-in-interest to an eligible applicant, an application, to be complete, also must contain valid evidence proving the applicant's status as a successor-in-interest to that eligible applicant and:

(A) Valid evidence of the death of that eligible applicant at the time of application, if the eligible applicant was an individual; or

(B) Valid evidence that the eligible applicant is no longer in existence at the time of application, if the eligible applicant is not an individual.

(v) Application evaluation. The Regional Administrator will evaluate an application submitted during the specified application period and compare all claims in the application with the information in the official LLP record. Claims in the application that are consistent with information in the official LLP record will be accepted by the Regional Administrator. Inconsistent claims in the application, unless verified by evidence, will not be accepted. An applicant who submits inconsistent claims, or an applicant who fails to submit the information specified in paragraphs (g)(4)(iii) and (g)(4)(iv) of this section, will be provided a 60-day evidentiary period pursuant to paragraph (g)(4)(vii) of this section to submit the specified information, submit evidence to verify his or her inconsistent claims, or submit a revised application with claims consistent with information in the official LLP record. An applicant who submits claims that are inconsistent with information in the official LLP record has the burden of proving that the submitted claims are correct.

(vi) Additional information or evidence. The Regional Administrator will evaluate additional information or evidence to support an applicant's inconsistent claims submitted within the 60-day evidentiary period pursuant to paragraph (g)(4)(vii) of this section. If the Regional Administrator determines that the additional information or evidence meets the applicant's burden of proving that the inconsistent claims in his or her application are correct, the official LLP record will be amended and the information will be used in determining whether the applicant is eligible for a license. However, if the Regional Administrator determines that the additional information or evidence does not meet the applicant's burden of proving that the inconsistent claims in his or her application is correct, the applicant will be notified by an initial administrative determination, pursuant to paragraph (g)(4)(viii) of this section, that the applicant did not meet the burden of proof to change the information in the official LLP record.

(vii) 60-day evidentiary period. The Regional Administrator will specify by letter a 60-day evidentiary period during which an applicant may provide additional information or evidence to support the claims made in his or her application, or to submit a revised application with claims consistent with information in the official LLP record, if the Regional Administrator determines that the applicant did not meet the burden of proving that the information on the application is correct through evidence provided with the application. Also, an applicant who fails to submit information as specified in paragraphs (g)(4)(iii) and (g)(4)(iv) of this section will have 60 days to provide that information. An applicant will be limited to one 60-day evidentiary period. Additional information or evidence, or a revised application, received after the 60-day evidentiary period specified in the letter has expired will not be considered for purposes of the initial administrative determination.

(viii) Initial administrative determinations (IAD). The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 60-day evidentiary period if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the applicant fails to support the applicant's claims and is insufficient to rebut the presumption that the official LLP record is correct, or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 60-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies in the application, including any deficiencies with the information, the evidence submitted in support of the information, or the revised application. The IAD will also indicate which claims cannot be approved based on the available information or evidence. An applicant who receives an IAD may appeal pursuant to § 679.43. An applicant who avails himself or herself of the opportunity to appeal an IAD will not receive a transferable license until after the final resolution of that appeal in the applicant's favor.

(ix) Issuance of a non-transferable license. The Regional Administrator will issue a non-transferable license to the applicant at the same time notification is provided to the applicant of his or her 60-day evidentiary period if issuance is required by the license renewal provisions of 5 U.S.C. 558. A non-transferable license authorizes a person to catch and retain scallops as specified on the non-transferable license, and will have the specific endorsements and designations based on the claims in his or her application. A non-transferable license will expire upon final agency action.

(5) Transfer of a Scallop License—(i) General. The Regional Administrator will approve the transfer of a scallop license if a complete transfer application is submitted to Restricted Access Management, Alaska Region, NMFS, and if the transfer meets all the eligibility criteria as specified in paragraph (g)(5)(ii) of this section. An application form may be requested from the Regional Administrator.

(ii) Eligibility criteria for transfers. A scallop license can be transferred if:

(A) The designated transferee is eligible to document a fishing vessel under Chapter 121, Title 46, U.S.C.;

(B) The parties to the transfer do not have any fines, civil penalties, other payments due and outstanding, or outstanding permit sanctions resulting from Federal fishing violations;

(C) The transfer will not cause the designated transferee to exceed the license limit in § 679.7(i); and

(D) The transfer does not violate any other provision specified in this part.

(iii) Contents of transfer application. To be complete, an application for a scallop license transfer must be signed by the license holder and the designated transferee, or the individuals representing them, and contain the following information, as applicable:

(A) Name, business address, telephone number, and FAX number of the license holder and of the designated transferee;

(B) License number and total price being paid for the license;

(C) Certification that the designated transferee is a U.S. citizen, or a U.S. corporation, partnership, or other association;

(D) A legible copy of a contract or sales agreement that specifies the license to be transferred, the license holder, the designated transferee, the monetary value or the terms of the license transfer; and

(E) Other information the Regional Administrator deems necessary for measuring program performance.

(iv) Incomplete applications. The Regional Administrator will return an incomplete transfer application to the applicant and identify any deficiencies if the Regional Administrator determines that the application does not meet all the criteria identified in paragraph (g)(5) of this section.

(v) Transfer by court order, operation of law, or as part of a security agreement. The Regional Administrator will transfer a scallop license based on a court order, operation of law, or a security agreement if the Regional Administrator determines that the transfer application is complete and the transfer will not violate any of the provisions of this section.

(h) [Reserved]

(i) Exempted fisheries permits. (See § 679.6.)

(j) Prohibited species donation program permits. (See § 679.26(a)(3).)

(k) Licenses for license limitation (LLP) groundfish or crab species—(1) General requirements. (i) In addition to the permit and licensing requirements of this part, and except as provided in paragraph (k)(2) of this section, each vessel within the GOA or the BSAI must have an LLP groundfish license on board at all times it is engaged in fishing activities defined in § 679.2 as directed fishing for license limitation groundfish. This groundfish license, issued by NMFS to a qualified person, authorizes a license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish only in accordance with the specific area and species endorsements, the vessel and gear designations, the MLOA specified on the license, and any exemption from the MLOA specified on the license.

(ii) Each vessel must have a crab species license, defined in § 679.2, issued by NMFS on board at all times it is engaged in fishing activities for the crab fisheries identified in this paragraph. A crab species license may be used only to participate in the fisheries endorsed on the license and on a vessel that complies with the vessel designation and MLOA specified on the license. NMFS requires a crab species license endorsed for participation in the following crab fisheries:

(A) Aleutian Islands Area C. opilio.

(B) Norton Sound red king and Norton Sound blue king in waters of the EEZ with a western boundary of 168° W. long., a southern boundary of 62° N. lat., and a northern boundary of 65°36′ N. lat.;

(C) Minor Species endorsement for Bering Sea golden king crab (Lithodes aequispinus).

(2) Exempt vessels. Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (k)(1) of this section,

(i) A catcher vessel or catcher/processor vessel that does not exceed 26 ft (7.9 m) LOA may conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the GOA without a groundfish license;

(ii) A catcher vessel or catcher/processor vessel that does not exceed 32 ft (9.8 m) LOA may conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the BSAI without a groundfish license and may conduct directed fishing for crab species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area without a crab species license;

(iii) A vessel may use a maximum of five jig machines, one line per jig machine, and a maximum of 30 hooks per line, to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the GOA without a groundfish license;

(iv) A catcher vessel or catcher/processor vessel that does not exceed 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA may use a maximum of 5 jig machines, one line per jig machine, and a maximum of 15 hooks per line, to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the BSAI without a groundfish license;

(v) A catcher vessel or catcher/processor vessel that does not exceed 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA, and during the period after November 18, 1992, through October 9, 1998, was specifically constructed for and used exclusively in accordance with a CDP approved by NMFS, and is designed and equipped to meet specific needs that are described in the CDP, is exempted from the requirement to have a LLP groundfish license to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish in the GOA and in the BSAI area and a crab species license to fish for crab species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; or

(vi) The operator of a catcher vessel that is greater than 32 ft (9.8 m) LOA, that does not exceed 46 ft (14.0 m) LOA, and that is registered by a CDQ group following the procedures described in § 679.5(m) may use hook-and-line gear to conduct groundfish CDQ fishing without a groundfish license.

(3) Vessel and gear designations and vessel length categories—(i) Vessel MLOA—(A) General. A license may be used only on a vessel designated on the license, a vessel that complies with the vessel designation and gear designation specified on the license, and a vessel that has an LOA less than or equal to the MLOA specified on the license, unless the license specifies that the vessel is exempt from the MLOA on the license.

(B) Modification of license MLOA for groundfish licenses with a Pacific cod endorsement in the GOA. (1) A groundfish license with a specified MLOA less than or equal to 50 feet prior to April 21, 2011 that subsequently receives a Pacific cod endorsement in the GOA with a catcher vessel and pot gear designation as specified under paragraph (k)(10) of this section will be redesignated with an MLOA of 50 feet on the date that the Pacific cod endorsement is assigned to that groundfish license;

(2) A groundfish license with a specified MLOA greater than or equal to 60 feet:

(i) That was continuously assigned to a single vessel less than 60 feet LOA from January 1, 2002, through December 8, 2008; and

(ii) That met the landing thresholds applicable for a groundfish license with a specified MLOA of less than 60 feet for the specific gear designation(s) and regulatory area(s) applicable to that groundfish license as described in paragraph (k)(10) of this section, will be redesignated with an MLOA equal to the LOA of the vessel to which that groundfish license was assigned from January 1, 2002, through December 8, 2008, based on the LOA for that vessel in NMFS' non-trawl gear recent participation official record on April 21, 2011, or as specified by a marine survey conducted by an independent certified marine surveyor or naval architect provided that the license holder provides NMFS with a marine survey conducted by an independent certified marine surveyor or naval architect not later than 90 days after April 21, 2011 that specifies the LOA of the vessel to which that groundfish license was assigned.

(3) The MLOA specified on a groundfish license under paragraph (k)(3)(i)(B)(2) of this section may not exceed 60 feet.

(C) Modification of the MLOA on an Amendment 80 LLP license or an Amendment 80 LLP/QS license. The MLOA designated on an Amendment 80 LLP license or an Amendment 80 LLP/QS license will be 295 ft. (89.9 m) if an Amendment 80 replacement vessel is designated on the license following the approval of a license transfer request under paragraph (k)(7) of this section.

(D) Modification of the MLOA on a groundfish LLP license listed in column A of Table 9 to this part. (1) Each groundfish LLP license endorsed to catch and process Pacific cod with hook-and-line gear in the BS or AI, or both, and designated in column B of Table 9 to this part will receive a 220-foot (67 m) MLOA following February 6, 2014.

(2) Each groundfish LLP license endorsed to catch and process Pacific cod with hook-and-line gear in the BS or AI, or both, and designated in column C of Table 9 to this part is eligible to be assigned a 220-foot (67 m) MLOA if the LLP holder submits a timely written request to remove all pot gear Pacific cod endorsements on that LLP following the process established under paragraph (k)(6)(xi) of this section.

(E) Exemption from MLOA on an LLP license with a Bering Sea area endorsement or an Aleutian Islands area endorsement for AFA rebuilt or AFA replacement vessels. An AFA rebuilt vessel or an AFA replacement vessel may exceed the MLOA on an LLP groundfish license with a Bering Sea area endorsement or an Aleutian Islands area endorsement when the vessel is conducting directed fishing for groundfish in the BSAI pursuant to that LLP groundfish license and when the exemption is specified on the LLP license.

(ii) Vessel designations—(A) Catcher/processor vessel. A license will be assigned a catcher/processor vessel designation if:

(1) For license limitation groundfish, license limitation groundfish were processed on the vessel that qualified for the groundfish license under paragraph (k)(4) of this section during the period January 1, 1994, through June 17, 1995, or in the most recent calendar year of participation during the area endorsement qualifying period specified in paragraph (k)(4)(ii) of this section; or

(2) For crab species, crab species were processed on the vessel that qualified for the crab species license under paragraph (k)(5) of this section during the period January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994, or in the most recent calendar year of participation during the area endorsement qualifying period specified in paragraph (k)(5)(ii) of this section.

(3) For purposes of paragraphs (k)(3)(ii)(A)(1) and (k)(3)(ii)(A)(2) of this section, evidence of processing must be demonstrated by production reports or other valid documentation demonstrating that processing occurred on the vessel during the relevant period.

(B) Catcher vessel. A license will be assigned a catcher vessel designation if it does not meet the criteria in paragraph (k)(3)(ii)(A)(1) or (k)(3)(ii)(A)(2) of this section to be assigned a catcher/processor vessel designation.

(C) Changing a vessel designation. A person who holds a groundfish license or a crab species license with a catcher/processor vessel designation may, upon request to the Regional Administrator, have the license reissued with a catcher vessel designation. The vessel designation change to a catcher vessel will be permanent, and that license will be valid for only those activities specified in the definition of catcher vessel designation at § 679.2.

(D) Limited processing by catcher vessels. Up to 1 mt of round weight equivalent of license limitation groundfish or crab species may be processed per day on a vessel less than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA that is authorized to fish with an LLP license with a catcher vessel designation.

(iii) Vessel length categories. A vessel's eligibility will be determined using the following three vessel length categories, which are based on the vessel's LOA on June 17, 1995, or, if the vessel was under reconstruction on June 17, 1995, the vessel's length on the date that reconstruction was completed.

(A) Vessel length category “A” if the LOA of the qualifying vessel on the relevant date was equal to or greater than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA.

(B) Vessel length category “B” if the LOA of the qualifying vessel on the relevant date was equal to or greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) but less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA.

(C) Vessel length category “C” if the LOA of the qualifying vessel on the relevant date was less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA.

(iv) Gear designations for groundfish licenses—(A) General. A vessel may only use gear consistent with the gear designation on the LLP license authorizing the use of that vessel to fish for license limitation groundfish or crab species, except that a vessel fishing under authority of an LLP license endorsed only for trawl gear may fish for slope rockfish with non-trawl gear within the Gulf of Alaska Slope Habitat Conservation Areas, as described in Table 27 to this part.

(B) Trawl/non-trawl. A license will be assigned a trawl/non-trawl gear designation if trawl and non-trawl gear were used to harvest LLP species from the qualifying vessel during the period beginning January 1, 1988, through June 17, 1995.

(C) Trawl. A license will be assigned a trawl gear designation if only trawl gear was used to harvest LLP species from the qualifying vessel during the period beginning January 1, 1988, through June 17, 1995.

(D) Non-trawl. A license will be assigned a non-trawl gear designation if only non-trawl gear was used to harvest LLP species from the qualifying vessel during the period beginning January 1, 1988, through June 17, 1995.

(E) Changing a gear designation. (1) An applicant may request a change of gear designation based on gear used from the vessel during the period beginning June 18, 1995, through February 7, 1998. Such a change would be permanent and may only be used for a change from trawl to non-trawl or from non-trawl to trawl.

(2) An applicant may request a change of gear designation based on a significant financial investment in converting a vessel or purchasing fishing gear on or before February 7, 1998, and making a documented harvest with that gear on or before December 31, 1998. Such a change would be permanent and may only be used for a change from trawl to non-trawl or from non-trawl to trawl.

(F) Definitions of non-trawl gear and significant financial investment. (1) For purposes of paragraph (k)(3)(iv) of this section, non-trawl gear means any legal gear, other than trawl, used to harvest license limitation groundfish.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (k)(3)(iv)(E)(2) of this section, “significant financial investment” means having spent at least $100,000 toward vessel conversion and/or gear to change to trawl gear from non-trawl gear, or having acquired groundline, hooks, pots, jig machines, or hauling equipment to change to non-trawl gear from trawl gear.

(4) Qualifications for a groundfish license. A groundfish license will be issued to an eligible applicant that meets the criteria in paragraphs (k)(4)(i) and (k)(4)(ii) of this section. For purposes of the license limitation program, evidence of a documented harvest must be demonstrated by a state catch report, a Federal catch report, or other valid documentation that indicates the amount of license limitation groundfish harvested, the groundfish reporting area in which the license limitation groundfish was harvested, the vessel and gear type used to harvest the license limitation groundfish, and the date of harvesting, landing, or reporting. State catch reports are Alaska, California, Oregon, or Washington fish tickets. Federal catch reports are production reports required under § 679.5.

(i) General qualification periods (GQP). This table provides the GQP documented harvest requirements for LLP groundfish licenses:

(ii) Endorsement qualification periods (EQP). This table provides the documented harvest requirements for LLP groundfish license area endorsements:

(iii) An eligible applicant that is issued a groundfish license based on a vessel's qualifications in the table at paragraphs (k)(4)(i)(A)(2) or (k)(4)(i)(B)(2) of this section must choose only one area endorsement for that groundfish license even if documented harvests qualifies the eligible applicant for more than one area endorsement.

(iv) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (k)(4)(i) of this section, NMFS will issue a groundfish license with the appropriate area endorsements to an eligible applicant whose vessel meets the requirements in the table at paragraph (k)(4)(i)(A) of this section, and the requirements in the table at any of the paragraphs (k)(4)(ii)(C) through (O) of this section, except:

(A) From whose vessel no documented harvests were made in the GOA or waters shoreward of the GOA during the period beginning January 1, 1988, through June 27, 1992, and

(B) From whose vessel no documented harvests were made in the BSAI or waters shoreward of the BSAI during the period beginning January 1, 1992, through June 17, 1995.

(v) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (k)(4)(i) of this section, a groundfish license with the appropriate area endorsements will be issued to an eligible applicant whose vessel meets the requirements in the tables at paragraphs (k)(4)(i) and (k)(4)(ii) and (A) or (B) of this section, except:

(A) From whose vessel no documented harvests were made in the BSAI or waters shoreward of the BSAI during the period beginning January 1, 1988, through June 27, 1992, and

(B) From whose vessel no documented harvests were made in the GOA or waters shoreward of the GOA during the period beginning January 1, 1992, through June 17, 1995.

(vi) Trawl gear designation recent participation requirements. (A) NMFS will revoke any trawl gear designation on a groundfish license with an Aleutian Island, Bering Sea, Central Gulf, or Western Gulf regulatory area unless one of the following conditions apply:

(1) A person made at least two legal landings using trawl gear under the authority of that groundfish license in that regulatory area during the period from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006; or

(2) That trawl gear designation endorsed in that area is exempt from the requirements of this paragraph (k)(4)(vi)(A) as described under paragraphs (k)(4)(vii) or (k)(4)(viii) of this section.

(B) NMFS shall assign a legal landing to a groundfish license for an area based only on information contained in the official record described in paragraph (k)(4)(x) of this section.

(vii) Exemption to trawl gear recent participation requirements for the AFA, Amendment 80 Program, and Rockfish Program. (A) Trawl gear designations with Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands area endorsements on a groundfish license that was derived in whole or in part from the qualifying fishing history of an AFA vessel are exempt from the landing requirements in paragraph (k)(4)(vi) of this section.

(B) Trawl gear designations with Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands area endorsements on a groundfish license are exempt from the landing requirements in paragraph (k)(4)(vi) of this section provided that all of the following conditions apply:

(1) The groundfish license was not derived in whole or in part from the qualifying fishing history of an AFA vessel;

(2) The groundfish license is assigned to an AFA vessel on August 14, 2009; and

(3) No other groundfish license with a Bering Sea or Aleutian Island area endorsement is assigned to that AFA vessel on August 14, 2009.

(C) Trawl gear designations with Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands area endorsements on a groundfish license that is listed in Column C of Table 31 to this part are exempt from the landing requirements in paragraph (k)(4)(vi) of this section.

(D) A trawl gear designation with Central Gulf area endorsement on a groundfish license that is assigned Rockfish QS is exempt from the landing requirements in paragraph (k)(4)(vi) of this section.

(viii) Exemption to trawl gear recent participation requirements for groundfish licenses with a Central Gulf or Western Gulf area endorsement. A trawl gear designation with a Central Gulf or Western Gulf area endorsement on a groundfish license is exempt from the landing requirements in paragraph (k)(4)(vi) of this section provided that a person made at least 20 legal landings under the authority of that groundfish license in either the Central Gulf or Western Gulf area using trawl gear during the period from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2007.

(ix) Aleutian Island area endorsements for non-AFA trawl catcher vessels. (A) If a non-AFA catcher vessel that is less than 60 feet LOA was used to make at least 500 mt of legal landings of Pacific cod using trawl gear from the waters that were open by the State of Alaska for which it adopts a Federal fishing season adjacent to the Aleutian Islands Subarea during the period from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006, according to the official record, NMFS shall issue an Aleutian Island area endorsement with a trawl gear designation to a groundfish license assigned to the vessel owner according to the official record, provided that the groundfish license assigned to that non-AFA catcher vessel meets all of the following requirements:

(1) It was not derived in whole or in part from the qualifying fishing history of an AFA vessel;

(2) It has a trawl gear designation;

(3) It does not have a catcher/processor vessel designation; and

(4) That groundfish license has an MLOA of less than 60 feet.

(B) If a non-AFA catcher vessel that is equal to or greater than 60 feet LOA was used to make at least one legal landing in State of Alaska waters adjacent to the Aleutian Islands Subarea using trawl gear during the period from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006, or one landing of Pacific cod from the State of Alaska Pacific cod fishery during the period from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006, according to the official record, NMFS shall issue an Aleutian Island area endorsement with a trawl gear designation to a groundfish license assigned to the vessel owner according to the official record, provided that the groundfish license assigned to that non-AFA catcher vessel meets the following criteria:

(1) It was not derived in whole or in part from the qualifying fishing history of an AFA vessel;

(2) It has a trawl gear designation;

(3) It does not have a catcher/processor vessel designation; and

(4) At least 1,000 mt of legal landings of Pacific cod using trawl gear in the BSAI were made under the authority of that groundfish license during the period from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006, according to the official record.

(C) NMFS will assign the AI endorsement to an eligible groundfish license held and designated by the vessel owner beginning on August 14, 2009.

(D) If the vessel owner does not hold a groundfish license to which an AI endorsement may be assigned on August 14, 2009 according to the official record, the vessel owner will have the opportunity to amend the official record as described in paragraph (k)(4)(x) of this section to designate an otherwise eligible groundfish license. If the official record is subsequently amended, NMFS will assign the AI endorsement to the groundfish license specified in the amended official record.

(x) Trawl gear recent participation official record. (A) The official record will contain all information used by the Regional Administrator to determine the following:

(1) The number of legal landings assigned to a groundfish license for purposes of the trawl gear designation participation requirements described in paragraph (k)(4)(vi) of this section;

(2) The amount of legal landings assigned to a groundfish license for purposes of the AI endorsements described in paragraph (k)(4)(ix) of this section;

(3) The owner of a vessel that has made legal landings that may generate an AI endorsement as described in paragraph (k)(4)(ix) of this section; and

(4) All other relevant information necessary to administer the requirements described in paragraphs (k)(4)(vi) through (k)(4)(ix) of this section.

(B) The official record is presumed to be correct. A groundfish license holder has the burden to prove otherwise. For the purposes of creating the official record, the Regional Administrator will presume the following:

(1) A groundfish license is presumed to have been used onboard the same vessel from which that groundfish license was derived, the original qualifying vessel, during the calendar years 2000 and 2001, unless clear and unambiguous written documentation is provided that establishes otherwise;

(2) If more than one person is claiming the same legal landing, then each groundfish license for which the legal landing is being claimed will be credited with the legal landing;

(3) The groundfish license to which an AI endorsement described in paragraph (k)(4)(ix) of this section will be initially assigned.

(C) Only legal landings as defined in § 679.2 and documented on State of Alaska fish tickets or NMFS weekly production reports will be used to assign legal landings to a groundfish license.

(D) The Regional Administrator will specify by letter a 30-day evidentiary period during which an applicant may provide additional information or evidence to amend or challenge the information in the official record. A person will be limited to one 30-day evidentiary period. Additional information or evidence received after the 30-day evidentiary period specified in the letter has expired will not be considered for purposes of the initial administrative determination.

(E) The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 30-day evidentiary period if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the person fails to support a person's claims and is insufficient to rebut the presumption that the official record is correct, or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 30-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies with the information, or the evidence submitted in support of the information. The IAD will also indicate which claims cannot be approved based on the available information or evidence. A person who receives an IAD may appeal pursuant to § 679.43. A person who avails himself or herself of the opportunity to appeal an IAD will receive a non-transferable license pending the final resolution of that appeal, notwithstanding the eligibility of that applicant for some claims based on consistent information in the official record.

(5) Qualification for a crab species license. A crab species license will be issued to an eligible applicant who owned a vessel that meets the criteria in paragraphs (k)(5)(i), (k)(5)(ii), and (k)(5)(iii) of this section, except that vessels are exempt from the requirements in paragraph (k)(5)(i) of this section for area/species endorsements at paragraphs (A) and (G) in the table at paragraph (k)(5)(ii) of this section.

(i) General qualification period (GQP). To qualify for one or more of the area/species endorsements in the table at paragraph (k)(5)(ii) of this section, the requirements of paragraph (k)(5)(iii) of this section must be met and:

(A) At least one documented harvest of any amount of crab species must have been made from a vessel between January 1, 1988, and June 27, 1992; or

(B) At least one documented harvest of any amount of crab species must have been made from a vessel between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 1994, providing that, during the period January 1, 1988, through February 9, 1992, the vessel for which the documented harvest was made also made a legal landing of any groundfish species harvested in the GOA or BSAI with any authorized gear, except sablefish caught with fixed gear, and, during the period February 10, 1992, through December 11, 1994, made a legal landing of any king or Tanner crab species harvested in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area.

(ii) Area/species endorsements. This table provides the documented harvest requirements for LLP crab license area/species endorsements:

(iii) Recent participation period (RPP). (A) The RPP is the period from January 1, 1996, through February 7, 1998. To qualify for a crab species license, defined at § 679.2, a person must have made at least one documented harvest of any amount of LLP crab species from a vessel during the RPP and must have held a LLP qualifying fishing history at the time of that documented harvest. A LLP qualifying fishing history meets the documented harvest requirements at paragraphs (k)(5)(i) and (k)(5)(ii) of this section.

(B) Exceptions to the RPP. A person does not need to meet the documented harvest requirements in paragraph (k)(5)(iii)(A) of this section if he or she deployed a vessel that met the documented harvest requirements in paragraph (k)(5)(i) of this section, if applicable, paragraph (k)(5)(ii) of this section, and:

(1) Only qualifies area/species endorsement at paragraph (G) in the table at paragraph (k)(5)(ii).

(2) Those documented harvests were made from a vessel that meets the requirements for vessel length category “C”.

(3) The vessel used to meet the document harvest requirements in paragraphs (k) (5) (i) and (k) (5) (ii) of this section was lost or destroyed, and he or she made a documented harvest of crab species any time during the period beginning after the vessel was lost or destroyed but before January 1, 2000.

(iv) Exception to allow purchase of LLP qualifying fishing history after the documented harvest in the RPP. To qualify for a LLP crab species license, a person who made a documented harvest of LLP crab species during the period from January 1, 1998, through February 7, 1998, must have obtained, or entered into a contract to obtain, the LLP qualifying fishing history by 8:36 a.m. Alaska local time on October 10, 1998,

(v) A qualified person who owned a vessel on June 17, 1995, that met the requirements in paragraphs (k)(5)(i) and (ii) of this section, but whose vessel was unable to meet requirements of paragraph (k)(5)(iii) of this section because of unavoidable circumstances (i.e., the vessel was lost damaged, or otherwise unable to participate in the license limitation crab fisheries) may receive a license if the qualified person is able to demonstrate that:

(A) The owner of the vessel at the time of the unavoidable circumstance held a specific intent to conduct fishing for license limitation crab species with that vessel during a specific time period in a specific area;

(B) The specific intent to conduct directed fishing for license limitation crab species was thwarted by a circumstance that was:

(1) Unavoidable;

(2) Unique to the owner of that vessel, or unique to that vessel; and

(3) Unforeseen and reasonably unforeseeable to the owner of the vessel;

(C) The circumstance that prevented the owner from conducting directed fishing for license limitation crab species actually occurred;

(D) Under the circumstances, the owner of the vessel took all reasonable steps to overcome the circumstances that prevented the owner from conducting directed fishing for license limitation crab species; and

(E) Any amount of license limitation crab species was harvested on the vessel after the vessel was prevented from participating but before January 1, 2000.

(vi) A groundfish license or crab species license may be used on a vessel that is named on the license, that complies with the vessel designation, and that does not exceed the MLOA on the license.

(6) Application for a groundfish license or a crab species license—(i) General. The Regional Administrator will issue a groundfish license or a crab species license to an applicant if a complete application is submitted by or on behalf of the applicant during the specified application period, and if that applicant meets all the criteria for eligibility in paragraph (k) of this section. An application that is postmarked or delivered after the ending date for the application period for the License Limitation Program specified in the Federal Register will be denied. An application form will be sent to the last known address of a person identified as an eligible applicant by the official LLP record. An application form may be requested from the Regional Administrator.

(ii) Application period. An application period of no less than 90 days will be specified by notification in the Federal Register and other information sources deemed appropriate by the Regional Administrator.

(iii) Contents of application. To be complete, an application for a groundfish license or a crab species license must be signed by the applicant, or the individual representing the applicant, and contain the following, as applicable:

(A) Name, business address, telephone number, and FAX number of the applicant;

(B) Name, state registration number (e.g., ADF&G number), and, if applicable, the USCG documentation number of the vessel being used as the basis for eligibility for a license; and name, state registration number (e.g., ADF&G number), and, if applicable, the USCG documentation number of the vessel to be deployed with the license if different than the vessel used as the basis of eligibility for a license;

(C) Name of the managing company, if any;

(D) Valid evidence of the documented harvests that are the basis of eligibility for a license, including harvest area, gear used, date of landing, and, if applying for a crab species license, species;

(E) Valid evidence of LOA on June 24, 1992, of the vessel used as the basis of eligibility for a license, except if that vessel was under reconstruction on that date, valid evidence of LOA on the date reconstruction was completed and valid evidence of when reconstruction began and ended;

(F) Valid evidence of LOA on June 17, 1995, of the vessel used as the basis of eligibility for a license, except if that vessel was under reconstruction on that date, valid evidence of LOA on the date reconstruction was completed, and valid evidence of when reconstruction began and ended;

(G) Valid evidence to support the applicant's claim for a vessel designation of catcher vessel or catcher/processor vessel;

(H) Valid evidence of ownership of the vessel being used as the basis for eligibility for a license (for USCG documented vessels, valid evidence must be the USCG Abstract of Title), or if eligibility is based on a fishing history that has been separated from a vessel, valid evidence of ownership of the fishing history being used as the basis of eligibility for a license; and

(I) Valid evidence of the LOA of the vessel to be deployed by the license if different than the vessel used as the basis for eligibility for a license.

(iv) Other information required for special circumstances.

(A) Successor-in-interest. If an applicant is applying as the successor-in-interest to an eligible applicant, an application, to be complete, also must contain valid evidence proving the applicant's status as a successor-in-interest to that eligible applicant and:

(1) Valid evidence of the death of that eligible applicant at the time of application, if the eligible applicant was or is an individual; or

(2) Valid evidence that the eligible applicant is no longer in existence at the time of application, if the eligible applicant is not an individual.

(B) Norton Sound crab species license endorsement. If an applicant is applying for a crab species license endorsement for Norton Sound and if the applicant is a person, an application, to be complete, must contain valid evidence that the applicant was a State of Alaska permit holder for the Norton Sound king crab summer fishery in 1993 or 1994. If the applicant is a corporation, an application, to be complete, must contain valid evidence that the corporation owned or had a lease for a vessel on June 17, 1995, that participated in the Norton Sound king crab summer fishery in 1993 or 1994.

(C) Extended general qualification period. If an applicant is applying for a license based on meeting the general qualification period requirements of paragraph (k)(4)(i)(A)(2) or (k)(4)(i)(B)(2) of this section, the application, to be complete, must indicate which single endorsement area the applicant has selected for license. A license cannot be endorsed for more than one area, notwithstanding the fact that the applicant may have the documented harvests to qualify for more than one endorsement area.

(D) Unavoidable circumstances. If a person is claiming that unavoidable circumstances prevented him or her from meeting certain eligibility requirements for a license under paragraph (k) of this section, he or she must provide the information required in the particular paragraph of this section authorizing such a claim, and include valid evidence of the date the vessel was lost, damaged, or otherwise unable to participate in the fishery, and the date a documented harvest was made after the vessel was unable to participate in the fishery by the unavoidable circumstance.

(v) Application evaluation. The Regional Administrator will evaluate an application submitted during the specified application period and compare all claims in the application with the information in the official LLP record. Claims in the application that are consistent with information in the official LLP record will be accepted by the Regional Administrator. Inconsistent claims in the application, unless verified by evidence, will not be accepted. Pursuant to paragraph (k)(6)(vii) of this section, an applicant who submits inconsistent claims, or an applicant who fails to submit the information specified in paragraphs (k)(6)(iii) and (k)(6)(iv) of this section, will be provided a 60-day evidentiary period pursuant to paragraph (k)(6)(vii) of this section to submit the specified information, submit evidence to verify his or her inconsistent claims, or submit a revised application with claims consistent with information in the official LLP record. An applicant who submits claims that are inconsistent with information in the official LLP record has the burden of proving that the submitted claims are correct.

(vi) Additional information or evidence. The Regional Administrator will evaluate additional information or evidence to support an applicant's inconsistent claims submitted within the 60-day evidentiary period pursuant to paragraph (k)(6)(vii) of this section. If the Regional Administrator determines that the additional information or evidence meets the applicant's burden of proving that the inconsistent claims in his or her application is correct, the official LLP record will be amended and the information will be used in determining whether the applicant is eligible for a license. However, if the Regional Administrator determines that the additional information or evidence does not meet the applicant's burden of proving that the inconsistent claims in his or her application is correct, the applicant will be notified by an initial administrative determination, pursuant to paragraph (k)(6)(viii) of this section, that the applicant did not meet the burden of proof to change the information in the official LLP record.

(vii) 60-day evidentiary period. The Regional Administrator will specify by letter a 60-day evidentiary period during which an applicant may provide additional information or evidence to support the claims made in his or her application, or to submit a revised application with claims consistent with information in the official LLP record, if the Regional Administrator determines that the applicant did not meet the burden of proving that the information on the application is correct through evidence provided with the application. Also, an applicant who fails to submit information as specified in paragraphs (k)(6)(iii) and (k)(6)(iv) of this section will have 60 days to provide that information. An applicant will be limited to one 60-day evidentiary period. Additional information or evidence, or a revised application, received after the 60-day evidentiary period specified in the letter has expired will not be considered for purposes of the initial administrative determination.

(viii) Initial administrative determinations (IAD). The Regional will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 60-day evidentiary period if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the applicant fails to support the applicant's claims and is insufficient to rebut the presumption that the official LLP record is correct, or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 60-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies in the application, including any deficiencies with the information, the evidence submitted in support of the information, or the revised application. The IAD will also indicate which claims cannot be approved based on the available information or evidence. An applicant who receives an IAD may appeal pursuant to § 679.43. An applicant who avails himself or herself of the opportunity to appeal an IAD will not receive a transferable license until after the final resolution of that appeal, notwithstanding the eligibility of that applicant for some claims based on consistent information in the application.

(ix) Issuance of a non-transferable license. The Regional Administrator will issue a non-transferable license to the applicant on issuance of an IAD if required by the license renewal provisions of 5 U.S.C. 558. A non-transferable license authorizes a person to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish or crab species as specified on the non-transferable license, and will have the specific endorsements and designations based on the claims in his or her application. A non-transferable license will expire upon final agency action.

(x) Surrender of groundfish or crab LLP. A groundfish or crab LLP license may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. A surrendered groundfish or crab LLP license will cease to exist and will not be subsequently reissued.

(xi) Surrender and extinguishment of a groundfish LLP endorsement. Endorsements specified on a groundfish LLP license are not severable from a license and cannot be surrendered except that pot gear Pacific cod endorsements specified on groundfish LLP licenses listed in Column C of Table 9 to this part, can be permanently surrendered, removed, and extinguished if:

(A) The holder of the groundfish LLP license listed in Column C of Table 9 to this part requests, in writing, that NMFS permanently remove and extinguish all pot gear Pacific cod endorsements specified on that LLP license and acknowledges in that written request that the surrender and removal are permanent and irreversible and that all pot gear Pacific cod endorsements on that LLP license are extinguished;

(B) The holder of the groundfish LLP license listed in Column C of Table 9 to this part requests, in writing, that NMFS assign a 220-foot (67 m) MLOA on that LLP license;

(C) The holder of the eligible LLP license, or the authorized agent, signs the request;

(D) NMFS receives the written request to permanently remove and extinguish all pot gear Pacific cod endorsements specified on the LLP groundfish license by February 6, 2017; and

(E) The written request is submitted to NMFS using one of the following methods:

(1) Mail: Regional Administrator, c/o Restricted Access Management Program, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668;

(2) Fax: 907-586-7354; or

(3) Hand delivery or carrier: NMFS, Room 713, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801.

(7) Transfer of a groundfish license or a crab species license—(i) General. The Regional Administrator will transfer a groundfish license, Aleutian Island area endorsement as described under paragraph (k)(7)(viii)(A) of this section, or a crab species license if a complete transfer application is submitted to Restricted Access Management, Alaska Region, NMFS, and if the transfer meets the eligibility criteria as specified in paragraph (k)(7)(ii) of this section. A transfer application form may be requested from the Regional Administrator.

(ii) Eligibility criteria for transfers. A groundfish license, Aleutian Island area endorsement as described under paragraph (k)(7)(viii)(A) of this section, or crab species license can be transferred if the following conditions are met:

(A) The designated transferee is eligible to document a fishing vessel under Chapter 121, Title 46, U.S.C.;

(B) The parties to the transfer do not have any fines, civil penalties, other payments due and outstanding, or outstanding permit sanctions resulting from Federal fishing violations;

(C) The transfer will not cause the designated transferee to exceed the license caps in § 679.7(i); and

(D) The transfer does not violate any other provision specified in this part.

(iii) Contents of application. To be complete, an application for a groundfish license, Aleutian Island area endorsement as described under paragraph (k)(7)(viii)(A) of this section transfer, or a crab species license transfer must be legible, have dated signatures of the applicants, and the applicants must attest that, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, all statements in the application are true. An application to transfer will be provided by NMFS, or is available on the NMFS Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The acceptable submittal methods will be specified on the application form.

(iv) Incomplete applications. The Regional Administrator will return an incomplete transfer application to the applicant and identify any deficiencies if the Regional Administrator determines that the application does not meet all the criteria identified in paragraph (k)(7) of this section.

(v) Transfer by court order, operation of law, or as part of a security agreement. The Regional Administrator will transfer a groundfish license, Aleutian Island area endorsement as described under paragraph (k)(7)(viii)(A) of this section, or a crab species license based on a court order, operation of law, or a security agreement if the Regional Administrator determines that the transfer application is complete and the transfer will not violate any of the provisions of this section.

(vi) Voluntary transfer limitation. A groundfish license, Aleutian Island area endorsement as described under paragraph (k)(7)(viii)(A) of this section, or a crab species license may be voluntarily transferred only once in any calendar year. A voluntary transfer is a transfer other than one pursuant to a court order, operation of law, or a security agreement. An application for transfer that would cause a person to exceed the transfer limit of this provision will not be approved. A transfer of an Aleutian Island area endorsement as described under paragraph (k)(7)(viii)(A) of this section to another LLP license, or the transfer of a groundfish license with an Aleutian Island area endorsement as described under paragraph (k)(7)(viii)(A) of this section attached to it will be considered to be a transfer of that Aleutian Island area endorsement.

(vii) Request to change the designated vessel. (A) A request to change the vessel designated on an LLP groundfish or crab species license must be made on a transfer application. If this request is approved and made separately from a license transfer, it will count towards the annual limit on voluntary transfers specified in paragraph (k)(7)(vi) of this section.

(B) A request to change the vessel designated on an Amendment 80 LLP license or an Amendment 80 LLP/QS license must be made on an Application for Amendment 80 Replacement Vessel in accordance with § 679.4(o)(4)(ii). The MLOA modification specified at paragraph (k)(3)(i)(C) of this section will be effective when a complete application is submitted to NMFS in accordance with paragraph (k)(7) of this section, and the application is approved by the Regional Administrator.

(viii) Severability of licenses. (A) Area endorsements or area/species endorsements specified on a license are not severable from the license and must be transferred together, except that Aleutian Island area endorsements on a groundfish license with a trawl gear designation issued under the provisions of paragraph (k)(4)(ix)(A) of this section and that are assigned to a groundfish license with an MLOA of less than 60 feet LOA may be transferred separately from the groundfish license to which that Aleutian Island area endorsement was originally issued to another groundfish license provided that the groundfish license to which that Aleutian Island endorsement is transferred:

(1) Was not derived in whole or in part from the qualifying fishing history of an AFA vessel;

(2) Has a catcher vessel designation;

(3) Has a trawl gear designation;

(4) Has an MLOA of less than 60 feet LOA; and

(5) A complete transfer application is submitted to the Regional Administrator as described under this paragraph (k)(7), and that application is approved.

(B) A groundfish license and a crab species license issued based on the legal landings of the same vessel and initially issued to the same qualified person are not severable and must be transferred together.

(ix) Other transfer restrictions. The transfer of a LLP license that was issued based on the documented harvests from a vessel that did not have an FFP during the period beginning January 1, 1988, through October 8, 1998, must be accompanied by the vessel from which the documented harvests were made or its replacement vessel, or if the LLP license and vessel were separated by transfer prior to February 7, 1998, then by the vessel that is currently being deployed by the license holder. The Regional Administrator will deny a transfer application that requests the transfer of a LLP license that was issued based on the documented harvests from a vessel that did not have an FFP during the period beginning January 1, 1988, through October 8, 1998, if the appropriate vessel is not being transferred as part of the same transaction. A license holder of an LLP license that was issued based on the documented harvests from a vessel that did not have an FFP during the period beginning January 1, 1988, through October 8, 1998, may replace the vessel from which the documented harvests were made with another vessel that meets the vessel designation and MLOA requirements specified on the LLP license if the original qualifying vessel is lost or destroyed.

(8) Other provisions. (i) Any person committing, or a fishing vessel used in the commission of, a violation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act or any regulations issued pursuant thereto, is subject to the civil and criminal penalty provisions and the civil forfeiture provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, part 621 of this chapter, 15 CFR part 904 (Civil Procedure), and other applicable law. Penalties include, but are not limited to, permanent or temporary sanctions to licenses.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of the license limitation program in this part, vessels fishing for species other than license limitation groundfish as defined in § 679.2 that were authorized under Federal regulations to incidentally catch license limitation groundfish without a Federal fisheries permit described at § 679.4(b) will continue to be authorized to catch the maximum retainable bycatch amounts of license limitation groundfish as provided in this part without a groundfish license.

(iii) An eligible applicant, who qualifies for a groundfish license or crab species license but whose vessel on which the eligible applicant's qualification was based was lost or destroyed, will be issued a license. This license:

(A) Will have the vessel designation of the lost or destroyed vessel.

(B) Cannot be used to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish or to conduct directed fishing for crab species on a vessel that has an LOA greater than the MLOA designated on the license.

(iv) A qualified person who owned a vessel on June 17, 1995, that made a documented harvest of license limitation groundfish, or crab species if applicable, between January 1, 1988, and February 9, 1992, but whose vessel was unable to meet all the criteria in paragraph (k)(4) of this section for a groundfish license or paragraph (k)(5) of this section for a crab species license because of an unavoidable circumstance (i.e., the vessel was lost, damaged, or otherwise unable to participate in the license limitation groundfish or crab fisheries) may receive a license if the qualified person is able to demonstrate that:

(A) The owner of the vessel at the time of the unavoidable circumstance held a specific intent to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish or crab species with that vessel during a specific time period in a specific area.

(B) The specific intent to conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish or crab species with that vessel was thwarted by a circumstance that was:

(1) Unavoidable.

(2) Unique to the owner of that vessel, or unique to that vessel.

(3) Unforeseen and reasonably unforeseeable to the owner of the vessel.

(C) The circumstance that prevented the owner from conducting directed fishing for license limitation groundfish or crab species actually occurred.

(D) Under the circumstances, the owner of the vessel took all reasonable steps to overcome the circumstance that prevented the owner from conducting directed fishing for license limitation groundfish or crab species.

(E) Any amount of license limitation groundfish or appropriate crab species was harvested on the vessel in the specific area that corresponds to the area endorsement or area/species endorsement for which the qualified person who owned a vessel on June 17, 1995, is applying and that the license limitation groundfish or crab species was harvested after the vessel was prevented from participating by the unavoidable circumstance but before June 17, 1995.

(v) A groundfish license or a crab species license may be used on a vessel that complies with the vessel designation on the license and that does not exceed the MLOA on the license.

(9) Pacific cod endorsements in the BSAI—(i) General. In addition to other requirements of this part, and unless specifically exempted in paragraph (k)(9)(iv) of this section, a license holder must have a Pacific cod endorsement on his or her groundfish license to conduct directed fishing for Pacific cod with hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. A license holder can only use the specific non-trawl gear(s) indicated on his or her license to conduct directed fishing for Pacific cod in the BSAI.

(ii) Eligibility requirements for a Pacific cod endorsement. This table provides eligibility requirements for Pacific cod endorsements on an LLP groundfish license:

(iii) Explanations for Pacific cod endorsements. (A) All eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section will be determined based on round weight equivalents.

(B) Discards will not count toward eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section.

(C) Pacific cod harvested for personal bait use will not count toward eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section.

(D) A legal landing of Pacific cod in the BSAI for commercial bait will count toward eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section.

(E) Harvests within the BSAI will count toward eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section; however, a license holder will only be able to harvest Pacific cod in the specific areas in the BSAI for which he or she has an area endorsement.

(F) Harvests within the BSAI Would count toward eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section if:

(1) Those harvests were made from the vessel that was used as the basis of eligibility for the license holder's LLP groundfish license, or

(2) Those harvests were made from a vessel that was not the vessel used as the basis of eligibility for the license holder's LLP groundfish license, provided that, at the time the endorsement-qualifying Pacific cod harvests were made, the person who owned such Pacific cod endorsement-qualifying fishing history also owned the fishing history of a vessel that satisfied the requirements for the LLP groundfish license.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (k)(9)(iii)(F)(2) of this section, the LLP groundfish license qualifying history or the Pacific cod qualifying history of any one vessel may not be used to satisfy the requirements for issuance of more than one LLP groundfish license endorsed for the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line or pot gear fisheries.

(G) Except as provided in paragraph 679.4(k)(9)(iii)(D), only harvests of BSAI Pacific cod in the directed fishery will count toward eligibility amounts.

(iv) Exemptions to Pacific cod endorsements. (A) Any vessel exempted from the License Limitation Program at paragraph (k)(2) of this section.

(B) Any catcher vessel less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA.

(C) Any catch of Pacific cod for personal use bait.

(v) Combination of landings and hardship provision. Notwithstanding the eligibility requirements in paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section, a license holder may be eligible for a Pacific cod endorsement by meeting the following criteria.

(A) Combination of landings. A license holder may combine the landings of a sunken vessel and the landings of a vessel obtained to replace a sunken vessel to satisfy the eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section only if he or she meets the requirements in paragraphs (k)(9)(v)(A)(1)-(4) of this section. No other combination of landings will satisfy the eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section.

(1) The sunken vessel was used as the basis of eligibility for the license holder's groundfish license;

(2) The sunken vessel sank after January 1, 1995;

(3) The vessel obtained to replace the sunken vessel was obtained by December 31 of the year 2 years after the sunken vessel sank; and

(4) The length of the vessel obtained to replace the sunken vessel does not exceed the MLOA specified on the license holder's groundfish license.

(B) Hardship provision. A license holder may be eligible for a Pacific cod endorsement because of unavoidable circumstances if he or she meets the requirements in paragraphs (k)(9)(v)(B)(1)-(4) of this section. For purposes of this hardship provision, the term license holder includes the person whose landings were used to meet the eligibility requirements for the license holder's groundfish license, if not the same person.

(1) The license holder at the time of the unavoidable circumstance held a specific intent to conduct directed fishing for BSAI Pacific cod in a manner sufficient to meet the landing requirements in the table at paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section but that this intent was thwarted by a circumstance that was:

(i) Unavoidable;

(ii) Unique to the license holder, or unique to the vessel that was used as the basis of eligibility for the license holder's groundfish license; and

(iii) Unforeseen and reasonably unforeseeable to the license holder.

(2) The circumstance that prevented the license holder from conducting directed fishing for BSAI Pacific cod in a manner sufficient to meet the landing requirements in paragraph (k)(9)(ii) actually occurred;

(3) The license holder took all reasonable steps to overcome the circumstance that prevented the license holder from conducting directed fishing for BSAI Pacific cod in a manner sufficient to meet the landing requirements in paragraph (k)(9)(ii) of this section; and

(4) Any amount of Pacific cod was harvested in the BSAI aboard the vessel that was used as the basis of eligibility for the license holder's groundfish license after the vessel was prevented from participating by the unavoidable circumstance but before April 16, 2000.

(10) Pacific cod endorsements in the Western and Central GOA—(i) General. In addition to other requirements of this part, and unless specifically exempted in paragraph (k)(10)(iv) of this section, a license holder must have a Pacific cod endorsement on his or her groundfish license to conduct directed fishing for Pacific cod in the Western Gulf of Alaska or Central Gulf of Alaska with hook-and-line gear, pot gear, or jig gear on a vessel using more than five jig machines, more than one line per machine, and more than 30 hooks per line. A license holder can only use the specific non-trawl gear(s) indicated on his or her license to conduct directed fishing for Pacific cod in the Western Gulf of Alaska or Central Gulf of Alaska.

(ii) Eligibility requirements for a Pacific cod endorsement. This table provides eligibility requirements for Pacific cod endorsements on an LLP groundfish license:

(iii) Explanations for Pacific cod endorsements. (A) All eligibility amounts in the table at paragraph (k)(10)(ii) of this section will be determined based on round weight equivalents.

(B) NMFS shall assign a legal landing to a groundfish license in an area based only on information contained in the official record described in paragraph (k)(10)(v) of this section.

(C) Notwithstanding the eligibility amount in the table at paragraph (k)(10)(ii) of this section, NMFS shall assign a non-trawl Pacific cod endorsement with a catcher/processor and a hook-and-line gear designation in the regulatory areas specified to those groundfish licenses listed in Table 49 to part 679;

(D) If a groundfish license meets the criteria described in paragraph (k)(3)(i)(B)(2) of this section and NMFS has redesignated the MLOA of that groundfish license based on those criteria, then NMFS may assign a non-trawl Pacific cod endorsement with the specific gear designation(s) and regulatory area(s) applicable to the redesignated MLOA of that groundfish license based on the eligibility criteria established in paragraph (k)(10)(ii) of this section; and

(E) NMFS may issue groundfish licenses with non-trawl Pacific cod endorsements to CQEs as specified in paragraph (k)(10)(vi) of this section.

(iv) Exemptions to Pacific cod endorsements. Any vessel exempted from the License Limitation Program at paragraph (k)(2) of this section.

(v) Non-trawl gear recent participation official record. (A) The official record will contain all information used by the Regional Administrator to determine the following:

(1) The number of legal landings and amount of legal landings assigned to a groundfish license for purposes of the non-trawl gear designation participation requirements described in paragraph (k)(10)(ii) of this section;

(2) All other relevant information necessary to administer the requirements described in paragraphs (k)(3)(i)(B) and (k)(10) of this section.

(B) The official record is presumed to be correct. A groundfish license holder has the burden to prove otherwise.

(C) Only legal landings as defined in § 679.2 and documented on State of Alaska fish tickets or NMFS weekly production reports will be used to assign legal landings to a groundfish license.

(D) If more than one groundfish license holder is claiming the same legal landing because their groundfish license designated the vessel at the time that the legal landing was made, then each groundfish license for which the legal landing is being claimed will be credited with the legal landing.

(E) The Regional Administrator will specify by letter a 30-day evidentiary period during which an applicant may provide additional information or evidence to amend or challenge the information in the official record. A person will be limited to one 30-day evidentiary period. Additional information or evidence received after the 30-day evidentiary period specified in the letter has expired will not be considered for purposes of the initial administrative determination (IAD).

(F) The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 30-day evidentiary period if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the person fails to support the person's claims and is insufficient to rebut the presumption that the official record is correct, or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 30-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies with the information, or with the evidence submitted in support of the information. The IAD will also indicate which claims cannot be approved based on the available information or evidence. A person who receives an IAD may appeal pursuant to § 679.43. A person who avails himself or herself of the opportunity to appeal an IAD will receive a non-transferable license pending the final resolution of that appeal, notwithstanding the eligibility of that applicant for some claims based on consistent information in the official record.

(vi) Issuance of non-trawl groundfish licenses to CQEs. (A) Each CQE that has been approved by the Regional Administrator under the requirements of § 679.41(l)(3) to represent a community listed in Table 21 to part 679 that is eligible for Pacific cod endorsed non-trawl groundfish licenses, may apply to receive the maximum number of groundfish licenses listed in Table 21 to part 679 on behalf of the eligible communities listed in Table 21 to part 679 that CQE is designated to represent. In order to receive a groundfish license, a CQE must submit a complete application for a groundfish license to the Regional Administer. A CQE may not apply for, and may not receive more than the maximum number of groundfish licenses designated in the regulatory area specified for a community as listed in Table 21 to part 679.

(B) The application for a CQE to receive a groundfish license must include:

(1) Name of contact person(s) for the CQE, NMFS person number, permanent business mailing addresses, business phone, business e-mail, and business fax;

(2) A statement describing the procedures that will be used to determine the distribution of LLP licenses to residents of the community represented by that CQE;

(3) Procedures used to solicit requests from residents to be assigned an LLP license;

(4) Criteria used to determine the distribution of the use of LLP licenses among qualified community residents and the relative weighting of those criteria; and

(5) The gear designation of groundfish license for which the CQE is applying provided that the community for which the CQE is applying is eligible to receive a groundfish license designated for the Central Gulf of Alaska and the application to receive a groundfish license has been received by NMFS not later than six months after April 21, 2011.

(C) A groundfish license approved for issuance to a CQE by the Regional Administrator for a community listed in Table 21 to part 679:

(1) May not be transferred to any person from the CQE;

(2) Will have only the regional designation specified for that community as listed in Table 21 to part 679;

(3) Will have an MLOA of 60 feet specified on the license;

(4) Will have only a catcher vessel designation;

(5) Will receive only a non-trawl gear endorsement;

(6) Will be assigned a Pacific cod endorsement with a non-trawl gear designation as specified in paragraph (k)(10)(vi)(D) of this section.

(7) May not be assigned to any vessel other than the vessel specified for that groundfish license in the annual CQE authorization letter;

(8) May not be assigned for use by any person(s) other than the person(s) specified for that groundfish license in the annual CQE authorization letter, or any subsequent amendment to that authorization letter that is made by the CQE provided that NMFS receives that amendment prior to that person using that groundfish license aboard a vessel; and

(9) May not be assigned to more than one vessel per calendar year.

(D) The CQE must provide a copy of the annual CQE authorization letter, and any subsequent amendment to that authorization letter that is made by the CQE to NMFS and the vessel operator prior to the person(s) designated in the authorization letter using that groundfish license aboard a vessel. The vessel operator must maintain a copy of the annual CQE authorization letter, and any subsequent amendment to that authorization letter that is made by the CQE onboard the vessel when that vessel is directed fishing for Pacific cod under the authority of that groundfish license. The authorization letter, and any subsequent amendment to that authorization letter must be submitted to the Regional Administrator.

(E) The CQE must attest in the annual CQE authorization letter, or any subsequent amendment to that authorization letter, that the person(s) using a groundfish license issued to a CQE:

(1) Is a citizen of the United States;

(2) Has maintained a domicile in a CQE community in the Central GOA or Western GOA eligible to receive an LLP license endorsed for Pacific cod for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the time when the assertion of residence is made; and

(3) Is not claiming residency in another community, state, territory, or country, except that residents of the Village of Seldovia shall be considered to be eligible community residents of the City of Seldovia for the purposes of eligibility to serve as an authorized person.

(F) Non-trawl Pacific cod gear endorsements on groundfish licenses approved for issuance to CQEs by the Regional Administrator shall have the following gear designations:

(1) NMFS will issue only pot gear Pacific cod endorsements for groundfish licenses with a Western Gulf of Alaska designation to CQEs on behalf of a community listed in Table 21 to part 679.

(2) NMFS will issue either a pot gear or a hook-and-line gear Pacific cod endorsement for a groundfish license with a Central Gulf of Alaska designation to CQEs on behalf of a community listed in Table 21 to part 679 based on the application for a groundfish license as described in paragraph (k)(10)(vi)(B) of this section provided that application is received by NMFS not later than six months after April 21, 2011. If an application to receive a groundfish license with a Central Gulf of Alaska designation on behalf of a community listed in Table 21 to part 679 is received later than six months after April 21, 2011, NMFS will issue an equal number of pot gear and hook-and-line gear Pacific cod endorsements for a groundfish license issued to the CQE on behalf of a community listed in Table 21 to part 679. In cases where the total number of groundfish licenses issued on behalf of a community listed in Table 21 to part 679 is not even, NMFS will issue one more groundfish license with a pot gear Pacific cod endorsement than the number of groundfish licenses with a hook-and-line gear Pacific cod endorsement.

(G) An annual report on the use of Pacific cod endorsed non-trawl groundfish licenses shall be submitted by the CQE as required at § 679.5(t).

(vii) Additional endorsements for groundfish license holders eligible to participate in the Western and/or Central GOA Pacific cod fisheries—(A) Requirements. A license limitation groundfish license holder can elect to permanently add a catcher vessel endorsement for Pacific cod for the same gears and areas for which the license is currently endorsed, for the Western and/or Central GOA if the license holder—

(1) Is operating under the authority of a groundfish license endorsed for Pacific cod in Western and Central GOA, as described at paragraphs (k)(4)(vi) or (k)(10)(ii) of this section;

(2) Is endorsed to participate as a catcher/processor in the Western and/or Central GOA Pacific cod fishery; and,

(3) Made a minimum of one Pacific cod landing while operating as a catcher vessel under the authority of the catcher/processor license in Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630, from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2008.

(4) Or, is the holder of a license limitation groundfish license endorsed for trawl gear Western and/or Central GOA and made a minimum of one Pacific cod landing while operating as a catcher vessel under the authority of the catcher/processor license in Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630, from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2008.

(B) Additional Central GOA and/or Western GOA catcher vessel endorsement. Any holder of an LLP license that has a catcher vessel endorsement for the Western and/or Central GOA under paragraph (k)(10)(vii) of this section—

(1) Will have all directed catch of Pacific cod harvested under the authority of that groundfish license accrue against the respective GOA regulatory area catcher vessel allocations; and

(2) Will have all incidental catch of Pacific cod in the Western GOA or Central GOA Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630, harvested under the authority of that groundfish license accrue against the respective GOA regulatory area catcher vessel allocations.

(C) Eligible license holders not electing to add catcher vessel endorsement(s). Any holder of an LLP license that does not have a catcher vessel endorsement for the Western and/or Central GOA under (k)(10)(vii) of this section may participate in the Western GOA or Central GOA directed Pacific cod fishery as a catcher/processor or a catcher vessel; however, direct and incidental catch of Pacific cod in the Western GOA and Central GOA will accrue against the respective catcher/processor allocation.

(D) Multiple or stacked LLP licenses. For a vessel that does not meet the requirements at paragraph (k)(10)(vii) of this section but does have multiple, stacked, LLP licenses and one of those stacked licenses is endorsed as a catcher/processor eligible to harvest Pacific cod in the Western GOA or Central GOA Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630, all catch will accrue against the catcher/processor sector allocation for that gear type.

(E) Catch history. NMFS will assign legal landings to each groundfish license for an area based only on information contained in the official record as described in paragraph (k)(10)(viii) of this section.

(viii) Catcher/processor participation in the Western GOA and Central GOA official record. (A) The official record will contain all information used by the Regional Administrator to determine the following:

(1) The number and amount of legal landings made under the authority of that license by gear type, and operational mode;

(2) All other relevant information necessary to administer the requirements described in paragraphs (k)(10)(vii)(A)(1) through (k)(10)(vii)(A)(3) of this section.

(B) The official record is presumed to be correct. A groundfish license holder has the burden to prove otherwise.

(C) For the purposes of creating the official record, the Regional Administrator will presume if more than one person is claiming the same legal landing, that each groundfish license for which the legal landing is being claimed will be credited with the legal landing;

(D) Only legal landings as defined in § 679.2 and documented on State of Alaska Fish Tickets or NMFS weekly production reports will be used to assign legal landings to a groundfish license.

(E) The Regional Administrator will specify by letter a 30-day evidentiary period during which an applicant may provide additional information or evidence to amend or challenge the information in the official record. A person will be limited to one 30-day evidentiary period. Additional information or evidence received after the 30-day evidentiary period specified in the letter has expired will not be considered for purposes of the initial administrative determination.

(F) The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 30-day evidentiary period if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the person fails to support the person's claims and is insufficient to rebut the presumption that the official record is correct, or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 30-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies with the information, or the evidence submitted in support of the information. The IAD will also indicate which claims cannot be approved based on the available information or evidence. A person who receives an IAD may appeal pursuant to § 679.43. A person who avails himself or herself of the opportunity to appeal an IAD that is accepted by the National Appeals Office will receive a non-transferable license pending the final resolution of that appeal, notwithstanding the eligibility of that applicant for some claims based on consistent information in the official record.

(11) Restrictions on licenses earned on AFA catcher vessels and listed AFA catcher/processors. No person may use an LLP license that was derived in whole or in part from the qualifying fishing history of an AFA catcher vessel or a listed AFA catcher/processor to fish for groundfish or crab on a non-AFA catcher vessel or non-AFA catcher/processor. NMFS will identify all such licenses affected by this restriction and inform the holders of such licenses of this restriction through a restriction printed on the face of the license.

(12) Rockfish QS—(i) General. In addition to other requirements of this part, a license holder must have rockfish QS assigned to his or her groundfish LLP license to conduct directed fishing for rockfish primary species and rockfish secondary species with trawl gear.

(ii) Eligibility requirements for rockfish QS. The eligibility requirements to receive rockfish QS are established in § 679.80(b).

(13) Amendment 80 Program. In addition to other requirements of this part, a license holder must have an Amendment 80 LLP license to conduct fishing for an Amendment 80 species assigned to the Amendment 80 sector.

(14) Yellowfin sole trawl limited access sector (TLAS) directed fishery endorsement in the BSAI—(i) General. In addition to other requirements of this part, and unless specifically exempted in paragraph (k)(2) of this section, a vessel must be designated on a groundfish LLP license that has a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement in order to conduct directed fishing for yellowfin sole with trawl gear in the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector fishery and deliver the catch to a mothership. A vessel designated on a groundfish LLP license with trawl and catcher/processor vessel designations and a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement may operate as a catcher vessel and deliver its catch of yellowfin sole harvested in the directed BSAI TLAS fishery to a mothership, or operate as a catcher/processor and catch and process its own catch in this fishery.

(ii) Eligibility requirements for a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement. (A) A groundfish LLP license is eligible to receive a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement if the groundfish LLP license:

(1) Had a vessel designated on it, in any year from 2008 through 2015, that made at least one legal trip target landing of yellowfin sole in the BSAI TLAS directed fishery to a mothership in any one year from 2008 through 2015, inclusive, where a trip target is the groundfish species for which the retained amount of that groundfish species is greater than the retained amount of any other groundfish species for that trip;

(2) Has a Bering Sea area endorsement and a trawl gear designation; and

(3) Is credited by NMFS with a legal trip target landing specified in paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section.

(B) If a vessel specified in paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section was designated on more than one groundfish LLP license from 2008 through 2015 and made at least one legal trip target landing in a BSAI TLAS directed fishery from 2008 through 2015, the vessel owner must specify to NMFS only one of those groundfish LLP licenses to receive credit with the legal trip target landing(s) specified in paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section.

(iii) Explanations for BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement. (A) NMFS will determine whether a groundfish LLP license is eligible to receive a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement under paragraph (k)(14)(ii) of this section based only on information contained in the official record described in paragraph (k)(14)(v) of this section.

(B) NMFS will credit a groundfish LLP license with a legal trip target landing specified in paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section if that groundfish LLP license was the only groundfish LLP license on which the vessel was designated from 2008 through 2015. If a vessel that made at least one legal trip target landing specified in paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section was designated on more than one groundfish LLP license from 2008 through 2015 and made at least one legal trip target landing in a BSAI TLAS directed fishery from 2008 through 2015, the vessel owner must notify NMFS which one of those groundfish LLP licenses NMFS is to credit with the legal trip target landing(s) specified in paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section.

(C) Trip target landings will be determined based on round weight equivalents.

(iv) Exemptions to BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole endorsements. Any vessel exempted from the License Limitation Program at paragraph (k)(2) of this section is exempted from the requirement to have a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole endorsement to deliver catch of BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole to a mothership for processing.

(v) BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole participation official record. (A) The official record will contain all information used by the Regional Administrator that is necessary to administer the requirements described in paragraph (k)(14) of this section.

(B) The official record is presumed to be correct. A groundfish LLP license holder has the burden to prove otherwise.

(C) Only legal landings as defined in § 679.2 and documented on State of Alaska fish tickets or NMFS weekly production reports will be used to determine legal trip target landings under paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section.

(vi) Process for issuing BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole endorsements. (A) NMFS will issue to the holder of each groundfish LLP license endorsed to use trawl gear in the Bering Sea and designated in Column A of Table 52 to this part a notice of eligibility to receive a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement and a revised groundfish LLP license with a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement.

(B) NMFS will issue to the holder of each groundfish LLP license endorsed to use trawl gear in the Bering Sea and designated in Column A of Table 53 to this part a notice of eligibility to be credited with a legal trip target landing specified in (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section.

(1) NMFS will also issue to the owner of the vessel designated on the groundfish LLP licenses in Column A of Table 53 a notice of eligibility for the two listed groundfish LLP licenses to be credited with a legal trip target landing specified in (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section. The notice to the vessel owner will provide instructions for the vessel owner to select the one groundfish LLP license that NMFS is to credit with the legal trip target landing specified in (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section.

(2) The holder of a groundfish LLP license in Column A of Table 53 will receive a revised groundfish LLP license with a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement if:

(i) The owner of the vessel designated on the groundfish LLP license requests in writing that NMFS credit that groundfish LLP license with the legal trip target landing specified in paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section;

(ii) The vessel owner, or the authorized agent, signs the request;

(iii) The written request is submitted to NMFS using one of the following methods: Mail at Regional Administrator, c/o Restricted Access Management Program, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; fax at 907-586-7352; or hand delivery or carrier at NMFS, Room 713, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801; and

(iv) NMFS receives the written request and credits the groundfish LLP license with the legal trip target landing specified in paragraph (k)(14)(ii)(A)(1) of this section.

(3) The holder of a groundfish LLP license in Column A of Table 53 that is not selected by the vessel owner will receive a notice, using the address on record at the time the notification is sent, informing the holder that the groundfish LLP license was not selected by the vessel owner, will not be credited with a legal trip target landing, and will not receive a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole endorsement. The notice will inform the holder of the groundfish LLP license of the timing and process through which the holder can provide additional information or evidence to amend or challenge the information in the official record of this section as specified in paragraphs (k)(14)(vi)(D) and (E) of this section.

(C) NMFS will issue to the holder of a groundfish LLP license with a Bering Sea trawl designation and that is not listed in either Table 52 or 53 a notice informing that holder that the groundfish LLP license is not eligible to be credited with a legal trip target landing or receive a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement based on the official record, using the address on record at the time the notification is sent. The notice will inform the holder of the groundfish LLP license of the timing and process through which the holder can provide additional information or evidence to amend or challenge the information in the official record of this section, as specified in paragraphs (k)(14)(vi)(D) and (E) of this section.

(D) The Regional Administrator will specify by letter a 30-day evidentiary period during which an applicant may provide additional information or evidence to amend or challenge the information in the official record. A person will be limited to one 30-day evidentiary period. Additional information or evidence received after the 30-day evidentiary period specified in the letter has expired will not be considered for purposes of the initial administrative determination (IAD).

(E) The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 30-day evidentiary period, if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the person fails to support the person's claims and is insufficient to rebut the presumption that the official record is correct, or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 30-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies with the information or evidence submitted. The IAD will also indicate which claims cannot be approved based on the available information or evidence. A person who receives an IAD may appeal pursuant to 15 CFR part 906. NMFS will issue a non-transferable interim license that is effective until final agency action on the IAD to an applicant who avails himself or herself of the opportunity to appeal an IAD and who has a credible claim to eligibility for a BSAI TLAS yellowfin sole endorsement.

(15) BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement—(i) General. In addition to other requirements of this part, a catcher/processor must be designated on a groundfish LLP license that has a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement in order to receive and process Pacific cod harvested and delivered by a catcher vessel directed fishing in the BSAI non-CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel fishery as specified in § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A). A catcher/processor designated on a groundfish LLP license with Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands area, catcher/processor operation, and BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsements may operate as a mothership, as defined at § 679.2, to receive and process Pacific cod harvested by a catcher vessel directed fishing in the BSAI non-CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel fishery as specified in § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A).

(ii) Eligibility requirements for a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement. A groundfish LLP license is eligible to receive a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement if the groundfish LLP license:

(A) Has Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands area and catcher/processor operation endorsements;

(B) Had a catcher/processor designated on it that received and processed at least one legal mothership trip target of Pacific cod delivered from a catcher vessel directed fishing in the BSAI non-CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel fishery as specified in § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A) in each of the three years of the qualifying period of 2015 through 2017, inclusive, where a mothership trip target is, in the aggregate, the groundfish species that is delivered by a catcher vessel to a given catcher/processor acting as a mothership in an amount greater than the retained amount of any other groundfish species delivered by the same catcher vessel to the same catcher/processor for a given week; and

(C) Is credited by NMFS with receiving a legal mothership trip target specified in paragraph (k)(15)(ii)(B) of this section.

(iii) Explanations for BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement. (A) NMFS will determine whether a groundfish LLP license is eligible to receive a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement under paragraph (k)(15)(ii) of this section based only on information contained in the official record described in paragraph (k)(15)(iv) of this section.

(B) NMFS will credit a groundfish LLP license with receipt of a legal mothership trip target specified in paragraph (k)(15)(ii)(B) of this section if that groundfish LLP license was the only groundfish LLP license on which the catcher/processor that received and processed legal mothership trip targets was designated from 2015 through 2017.

(C) Mothership trip targets will be determined based on round weight equivalents.

(iv) Official record of participation in the BSAI non-CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel fishery. (A) The official record will contain all information used by the Regional Administrator that is necessary to administer the requirements described in paragraph (k)(15) of this section.

(B) The official record is presumed to be correct. A groundfish LLP license holder has the burden to prove otherwise.

(C) Only legal landings as defined in § 679.2 and documented on NMFS production reports will be used to determine legal mothership trip targets under paragraph (k)(15)(ii)(B) of this section.

(v) Process for issuing BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsements. (A) NMFS will issue to the holder of each groundfish LLP license with Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands area and catcher/processor operation endorsements, and specified in Column A of Table 57 of this part, a notice of eligibility to receive a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement and a revised groundfish LLP license with a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement.

(B) NMFS will issue to the holder of a groundfish LLP license with Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands area and catcher/processor operation endorsements, and that is not listed in Table 57 of this part, a notice informing that holder that the groundfish LLP license is not eligible to be credited with at least one legal mothership trip target of Pacific cod in the BSAI non-CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel fishery for each year during the qualifying period or receive a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement based on the official record, using the address on record at the time the notice is sent. The notice specified in this paragraph (k)(15)(v)(B) will inform the holder of the groundfish LLP license of the timing and process through which the holder can provide additional information or evidence to amend or challenge the information in the official record of this section, as specified in paragraphs (k)(15)(v)(C) and (D) of this section.

(C) The Regional Administrator will specify by notice a 30-day evidentiary period during which an applicant may provide additional information or evidence to amend or challenge the information in the official record. A person will be limited to one 30-day evidentiary period. Additional information or evidence received after the 30-day evidentiary period specified in the letter has expired will not be considered for purposes of the initial administrative determination (IAD).

(D) The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 30-day evidentiary period, if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the person fails to support the person's claims and is insufficient to rebut the presumption that the official record is correct, or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 30-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies with the information or evidence submitted. The IAD will also indicate which claims cannot be approved based on the available information or evidence. A person who receives an IAD may appeal pursuant to 15 CFR part 906. NMFS will issue a non-transferable interim license that is effective until final agency action on the IAD to an applicant who avails himself or herself of the opportunity to appeal an IAD and who has a credible claim to eligibility for a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement.

(16) PCTC Program. In addition to other requirements of this part, an LLP license holder must have PCTC Program QS assigned to their groundfish LLP license to join a PCTC Program cooperative to harvest Pacific cod.

(l) AFA permits—(1) General—(i) Applicability. In addition to any other permit and licensing requirements set out in this part, any vessel used to engage in directed fishing for a non-CDQ allocation of pollock in the BS and any shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or mothership that receives pollock harvested in a non-CDQ directed pollock fishery in the BS must have a valid AFA permit onboard the vessel or at the facility location at all times while non-CDQ pollock is being harvested or processed. In addition, the owner of any vessel that is a member of a pollock cooperative in the BS must also have a valid AFA permit for every vessel that is a member of the cooperative, regardless of whether or not the vessel actually engages in directed fishing for pollock in the BS. Finally, an AFA permit does not exempt a vessel operator, vessel, or processor from any other applicable permit or licensing requirement required under this part or in other state or Federal regulations.

(ii) Duration—(A) Expiration of interim AFA permits. All interim AFA vessel and processor permits issued prior to January 1, 2002, will expire on December 31, 2002, unless extended or re-issued by NMFS.

(B) Duration of final AFA permits. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (l)(1)(ii)(B)(2), (l)(1)(ii)(B)(3), (l)(5)(v)(B)(3), and (l)(6)(iii) of this section, AFA vessel and processor permits issued under this paragraph (l) are valid indefinitely unless the permit is suspended or revoked.

(2) An AFA vessel permit is revoked when the vessel designated on the permit is replaced or removed under paragraph (l)(7) of this section.

(3) In the event of a total loss or constructive loss of an AFA vessel,

(i) The AFA vessel permit that designates the lost AFA vessel will be valid from the date of the vessel loss up to 5 years from December 31 of the year in which the vessel was lost and will be suspended after that date, unless the AFA vessel permit for the lost vessel was revoked before that date because the lost vessel was replaced or removed under paragraph (l)(7) of this section. For example, if a vessel sinks on February 15, 2016, the AFA permit on the vessel will be valid until December 31, 2021, unless the owner of the vessel replaces or removes the vessel before December 31, 2021; after December 31, 2021, the AFA permit on the lost vessel will be suspended until the AFA vessel owner replaces or removes the lost vessel;

(ii) The owner of the lost AFA vessel must notify NMFS in writing of the vessel loss within 120 days of the date of the total loss or constructive loss of the vessel;

(iii) For purposes of paragraph (l)(1)(ii)(B)(3) of this section, an AFA lost vessel is a vessel that has been subject to a total loss or a constructive loss; a total loss means that the vessel is physically lost such as from sinking or a fire; a constructive loss means that the vessel suffered damage so that the cost of repairing the vessel exceeded the value of the vessel; the date of the total loss of a vessel is the date on which the physical loss occurred; the date of the constructive loss of a vessel is the date on which the damage to the vessel occurred.

(C) Surrender of AFA permits. Except for AFA inshore processor permits, AFA permits may not be surrendered.

(iii) Application for permit. NMFS will issue AFA vessel and processor permits to the current owner(s) of a qualifying vessel or processor if the owner(s) submits to the Regional Administrator a completed AFA permit application that is subsequently approved.

(iv) Amended permits. AFA vessel and processor permits may not be used on or transferred to any vessel or processor that is not listed on the permit. However, AFA permits may be amended by NMFS to reflect any change in the ownership of the vessel or processor after submittal of this information to NMFS in a written letter.

(2) AFA catcher/processor permits—(i) Listed AFA catcher/processors. NMFS will issue to an owner of a catcher/processor a listed AFA catcher/processor permit if the catcher/processor is one of the following (as listed in AFA paragraphs 208(e)(1) through (20)):

(A) AMERICAN DYNASTY (USCG documentation number 951307);

(B) KATIE ANN (USCG documentation number 518441);

(C) AMERICAN TRIUMPH (USCG documentation number 646737);

(D) NORTHERN EAGLE (USCG documentation number 506694);

(E) NORTHERN HAWK (USCG documentation number 643771);

(F) NORTHERN JAEGER (USCG documentation number 521069);

(G) OCEAN ROVER (USCG documentation number 552100);

(H) ALASKA OCEAN (USCG documentation number 637856);

(I) ENDURANCE (USCG documentation number 592206);

(J) AMERICAN ENTERPRISE (USCG documentation number 594803);

(K) ISLAND ENTERPRISE (USCG documentation number 610290);

(L) KODIAK ENTERPRISE (USCG documentation number 579450);

(M) SEATTLE ENTERPRISE (USCG documentation number 904767);

(N) US ENTERPRISE (USCG documentation number 921112);

(O) ARCTIC STORM (USCG documentation number 903511);

(P) ARCTIC FJORD (USCG documentation number 940866);

(Q) NORTHERN GLACIER (USCG documentation number 663457);

(R) PACIFIC GLACIER (USCG documentation number 933627);

(S) HIGHLAND LIGHT (USCG documentation number 577044);

(T) STARBOUND (USCG documentation number 944658).

(ii) Unlisted AFA catcher/processors. NMFS will issue to an owner of a catcher/processor an unlisted AFA catcher/processor permit if the catcher/processor is not listed in § 679.4(l)(2)(i) and is determined by the Regional Administrator to have harvested more than 2,000 mt of pollock in the 1997 BSAI directed pollock fishery.

(iii) AFA replacement vessels. (A) NMFS will issue a listed AFA catcher/processor permit to the owner of a catcher/processor that is a replacement vessel for a vessel that was designated on a listed AFA catcher/processor permit.

(B) NMFS will issue an unlisted AFA catcher/processor permit to the owner of a catcher/processor that is a replacement vessel for a vessel that was designated on an unlisted AFA catcher/processor permit.

(iv) Application for AFA catcher/processor permit. A completed application for an AFA catcher/processor permit must contain:

(A) Vessel information. The vessel name, ADF&G registration number, USCG documentation number, vessel telephone number (if any), gross tons, shaft horsepower, and registered length (in feet);

(B) Ownership information. The managing owner name(s), tax ID number(s), signature(s), business mailing address(es), business telephone number(s), business fax number(s), business e-mail address(es), and managing company (if any);

(3) AFA catcher vessel permits. NMFS will issue to an owner of a catcher vessel an AFA catcher vessel permit containing sector endorsements and sideboard restrictions upon receipt and approval of a completed application for an AFA catcher vessel permit.

(i) Qualifying criteria—(A) Catcher vessels delivering to catcher/processors. NMFS will endorse an AFA catcher vessel permit to authorize directed fishing for pollock for delivery to a catcher/processor if the catcher vessel:

(1) Is one of the following (as listed in paragraphs 208(b)(1) through (7) of the AFA):

(2) Is not listed in paragraph (l)(3)(i)(A)(1) of this section and is determined by the Regional Administrator to have delivered at least 250 mt and at least 75 percent of the pollock it harvested in the directed BSAI pollock fishery in 1997 to catcher/processors for processing by the offshore component; or

(3) Is an AFA replacement vessel for a vessel that was designated on an AFA catcher vessel permit with a catcher/processor endorsement.

(B) Catcher vessels delivering to AFA motherships. NMFS will endorse an AFA catcher vessel permit to authorize directed fishing for pollock for delivery to an AFA mothership if the catcher vessel:

(1) Is one of the following (as listed in paragraphs 208(c)(1) through (20) and in subsection 211(e) of the AFA):

(i) ALEUTIAN CHALLENGER (USCG documentation number 603820);

(ii) ALYESKA (USCG documentation number 560237);

(iii) AMBER DAWN (USCG documentation number 529425);

(iv) AMERICAN BEAUTY (USCG documentation number 613847);

(v) CALIFORNIA HORIZON (USCG documentation number 590758);

(vi) MAR-GUN (USCG documentation number 525608);

(vii) MARGARET LYN (USCG documentation number 615563);

(viii) MARK I (USCG documentation number 509552);

(ix) MISTY DAWN (USCG documentation number 926647);

(x) NORDIC FURY (USCG documentation number 542651);

(xi) OCEAN LEADER (USCG documentation number 561518);

(xii) OCEANIC (USCG documentation number 602279);

(xiii) PACIFIC ALLIANCE (USCG documentation number 612084);

(xiv) PACIFIC CHALLENGER (USCG documentation number 518937);

(xv) PACIFIC FURY (USCG documentation number 561934);

(xvi) PAPADO II (USCG documentation number 536161);

(xvii) TRAVELER (USCG documentation number 929356);

(xviii) VESTERAALEN (USCG documentation number 611642);

(xix) WESTERN DAWN (USCG documentation number 524423);

(xx) LISA MARIE (USCG documentation number 1038717); or

(2) Is not listed in paragraph (l)(3)(i)(B)(1) of this section and is determined by the Regional Administrator to have delivered at least 250 mt of pollock for processing by motherships in the offshore component of the BSAI directed pollock fishery in any one of the years 1996 or 1997, or between January 1, 1998, and September 1, 1998, and is not eligible for an endorsement to deliver pollock to catcher/processors under paragraph (l)(3)(i)(A) of this section; or

(3) Is an AFA replacement vessel for a vessel that was designated on an AFA catcher vessel permit with a mothership endorsement.

(C) Catcher vessels delivering to AFA inshore processors. NMFS will endorse an AFA catcher vessel permit to authorize directed fishing for pollock for delivery to an AFA inshore processor if the catcher vessel is:

(1) One of the following vessels authorized by statute to engage in directed fishing for inshore sector pollock:

(2) Is not listed in § 679.4(l)(3)(i)(A), and:

(i) Is determined by the Regional Administrator to have delivered at least 250 mt of pollock harvested in the directed BSAI pollock fishery for processing by the inshore component in any one of the years 1996 or 1997, or between January 1, 1998, and September 1, 1998; or

(ii) Is less than 60 ft (18.1 meters) LOA and is determined by the Regional Administrator to have delivered at least 40 mt of pollock harvested in the directed BSAI pollock fishery for processing by the inshore component in any one of the years 1996 or 1997, or between January 1, 1998, and September 1, 1998; or

(3) Is an AFA replacement vessel for a vessel that was designated on an AFA catcher vessel permit with an inshore endorsement.

(ii) Application for AFA catcher vessel permit. A completed application for an AFA catcher vessel permit must contain:

(A) Vessel information. The vessel name, ADF&G registration number, USCG documentation number, vessel telephone number (if any), gross tons, shaft horsepower, and registered length (in feet);

(B) Ownership information. The managing owner name(s), tax ID number(s), signature(s), business mailing address(es), business telephone number(s), business fax number(s), business e-mail address(es), and managing company (if any);

(C) Vessel AFA qualification information. The AFA catcher vessel permit sector endorsement(s) requested.

(D) [Reserved]

(E) Vessel exemptions from AFA catcher vessel groundfish sideboard directed fishing closures. An AFA catcher vessel permit may contain exemptions from certain groundfish sideboard directed fishing closures. If a vessel owner is requesting such an exemption, the application must provide supporting documentation that the catcher vessel qualifies for the exemption based on the following criteria. The Regional Administrator will review the vessel's catch history according to the following criteria:

(1) BSAI Pacific cod. For a catcher vessel to qualify for an exemption from AFA catcher vessel sideboards in the BSAI Pacific cod fishery, the catcher vessel must: Be less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA, have landed a combined total of less than 5,100 mt of BSAI pollock in the BSAI directed pollock fishery from 1995 through 1997, and have made 30 or more legal landings of Pacific cod in the BSAI directed fishery for Pacific cod from 1995 through 1997.

(2) GOA groundfish species. For a catcher vessel to qualify for an exemption from AFA catcher vessel sideboards in the GOA groundfish fisheries, the catcher vessel must: Be less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA, have landed a combined total of less than 5,100 mt of BSAI pollock in the BSAI directed pollock fishery from 1995 through 1997, and made 40 or more legal landings of GOA groundfish in a directed fishery for GOA groundfish from 1995 through 1997.

(3) AFA replacement vessel for a catcher vessel that qualified for an exemption. A catcher vessel that is a replacement vessel for a vessel that was designated on an AFA catcher vessel permit with an exemption from a groundfish sideboard directed fishing closure will receive an AFA catcher vessel permit with the same exemption as the replaced vessel.

(4) AFA mothership permits. (i) NMFS will issue to an owner of a mothership an AFA mothership permit if the mothership:

(A) Is one of the following (as listed in paragraphs 208(d)(1) through (3) of the AFA):

EXCELLENCE (USCG documentation number 967502);

GOLDEN ALASKA (USCG documentation number 651041); and

OCEAN PHOENIX (USCG documentation number 296779); or

(B) Is an AFA replacement vessel for a vessel that was designated on an AFA mothership permit.

(ii) Application for AFA mothership permit. A completed application for an AFA mothership permit must contain:

(A) Type of permit requested. Type of processor and whether requesting an AFA cooperative endorsement.

(B) Vessel information. The mothership name, ADF&G processor code, USCG documentation number, Federal fisheries permit number, gross tons, shaft horsepower, and registered length (in feet).

(C) Ownership information. The managing owner name(s), tax ID number(s), signature(s), business mailing address(es), business telephone number(s), business fax number(s), business e-mail address(es), and managing company (if any);

(5) AFA inshore processor permits. NMFS will issue to an owner of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor an AFA inshore processor permit upon receipt and approval of a completed application.

(i) Qualifying criteria—(A) Unrestricted processors. NMFS will issue an unrestricted AFA inshore processor permit to a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor if the Regional Administrator determines that the processor facility processed annually more than 2,000 mt round-weight of pollock harvested in the inshore component of the directed BSAI pollock fishery during each of 1996 and 1997.

(B) Restricted processors. NMFS will issue a restricted AFA inshore processor permit to a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor if the Regional Administrator determines that the facility processed pollock harvested in the inshore component of the directed BSAI pollock fishery during 1996 or 1997, but did not process annually more than 2,000 mt round-weight of BSAI pollock during each of 1996 and 1997.

(ii) Surrender of permit. An AFA inshore processor permit may be voluntarily surrendered in accordance with paragraph (a)(9) of this section. An AFA inshore processor permit will not be reissued in the same fishing year in which it was surrendered, but may be reapplied for and if approved, reissued to the permit holder of record in a subsequent fishing year.

(iii) Single geographic location requirement. An AFA inshore processor permit authorizes the processing of pollock harvested in the BS subarea directed pollock fishery only in a single geographic location during a reporting week. For the purposes of this paragraph, single geographic location means:

(A) Shoreside processors. The physical location at which the land-based shoreside processor first processed pollock harvested from the BS subarea directed pollock fishery during a fishing year.

(B) Stationary floating processors (SFP). A geographic position within State of Alaska waters of the BS subarea and that is within a 5 nm radius of the latitude and longitude reported in the check-in and check-out reports at § 679.5(h)(5)(ix)(B). An AFA SFP cannot change its single geographic location more than four times within State of Alaska waters in the BS subarea to process pollock harvested in a BS subarea directed pollock fishery during a fishing year and cannot use more than one single geographic location during a reporting week.

(iv) Application for permit. A completed application for an AFA inshore processor permit must contain:

(A) Type of permit requested. Type of processor, whether requesting an AFA cooperative endorsement, and amount of BSAI pollock processed in 1996 and 1997;

(B) Stationary floating processor information. The vessel name, ADF&G processor code, USCG documentation number, Federal processor permit number, gross tons, shaft horsepower, registered length (in feet), and business telephone number, business FAX number, and business e-mail address used on board the vessel.

(C) Shoreside processor information. The processor name, Federal processor permit number, ADF&G processor code, business street address; business telephone and FAX numbers, and business e-mail address.

(D) Ownership information. The managing owner name(s), tax ID number(s), signature(s), business mailing address(es), business telephone number(s), business fax number(s), business e-mail address(es), and managing company (if any);

(v) Authorization of new AFA inshore processors. If the Council recommends and NMFS approves a combined BSAI pollock TAC that exceeds 1,274,900 mt for any fishing year, or in the event of the actual total loss or constructive loss of an existing AFA inshore processor, the Council may recommend that an additional inshore processor (or processors) be issued AFA inshore processing permits.

(A) Timing of Council action. At any time prior to or during a fishing year in which the combined BSAI pollock TAC exceeds 1,274,900 mt, or at any time after the actual total loss or constructive total loss of an existing AFA inshore processor, the Council may, after opportunity for public comment, recommend that an additional inshore processor (or processors) be issued AFA inshore processor permits.

(B) Required elements in Council recommendation. Any recommendation from the Council to add an additional inshore processor (or processors) must include the following information:

(1) Identification of inshore processor(s). The Council recommendation must identify by name the inshore processor(s) to which AFA inshore processor permits would be issued;

(2) Type of AFA inshore processor permit(s). The Council recommendation must specify whether the identified inshore processor(s) should be issued a restricted or unrestricted AFA inshore processor permit.

(3) Duration of permit. The Council recommendation must specify the recommended duration of the permit. Permit duration may be for any duration from a single fishing season to the duration of section 208 of the AFA. Alternatively, the Council may recommend that the permit be valid as long as the conditions that led to the permit remain in effect. For example, the Council could recommend that a permit issued under this paragraph remain valid as long as the combined annual BSAI pollock TAC remains above 1,274,900 mt. or a lost AFA inshore processor is not reconstructed.

(4) Council procedures. The Council may establish additional procedures for the review and approval of requests to authorize additional AFA inshore processors. However, such procedures must be consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the national standards, and other applicable law.

(5) Action by NMFS. Upon receipt of a recommendation from the Council to authorize additional AFA inshore processors, NMFS may issue an AFA inshore processor permit to the identified inshore processor(s) of the type and duration recommended by the Council, provided the Council has met the requirements identified in paragraphs (l)(5)(v)(B)(1) through (4) of this section, and the owner(s) of the identified inshore processor has submitted a completed application for an AFA inshore processor permit that is subsequently approved.

(6) Inshore cooperative fishing permits—(i) General. NMFS will issue to an inshore catcher vessel cooperative formed pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 521 for the purpose of cooperatively managing directed fishing for pollock for processing by an AFA inshore processor an AFA inshore cooperative fishing permit upon receipt and approval of a completed application.

(ii) Application for permit. A completed application for an inshore cooperative fishing permit must contain the following information:

(A) Cooperative contact information. Name of cooperative; name of cooperative representative; and business mailing address, business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address of the cooperative;

(B) Designated cooperative processor. The name and physical location of an AFA inshore processor that is designated in the cooperative contract as the processor to whom the cooperative has agreed to deliver at least 90 percent of its BS pollock catch;

(C) Cooperative contract information. A copy of the cooperative contract and a written certification that:

(1) The contract was signed by the owners of at least 80 percent of the qualified catcher vessels;

(2) The cooperative contract requires that the cooperative deliver at least 90 percent of its BS pollock catch to its designated AFA processor; and

(3) Each catcher vessel in the cooperative is a qualified catcher vessel and is otherwise eligible to fish for groundfish in the BSAI, except that a lost vessel that retains an AFA permit pursuant to paragraph (l)(1)(ii)(B)(3) of this section need not be designated on a Federal Fisheries Permit or an LLP license; has an AFA catcher vessel permit with an inshore endorsement; and has no permit sanctions or other type of sanctions against it that would prevent it from fishing for groundfish in the BSAI.

(D) Qualified catcher vessels. For the purpose of paragraph (l)(6)(ii)(C)(3) of this section, a catcher vessel is a qualified catcher vessel if the catcher vessel meets the permit and landing requirements in paragraphs (l)(6)(ii)(D)(1) and (l)(6)(ii)(D)(2) of this section; the catcher vessel is an AFA replacement catcher vessel that meets the requirements in paragraph (l)(6)(ii)(D)(3) of this section; or the catcher vessel is an AFA lost catcher vessel that meets the requirements in paragraph (l)(6)(ii)(D)(4) of this section.

(1) Permit requirements—(i) AFA permit. The vessel must have a valid AFA catcher vessel permit with an inshore endorsement;

(ii) LLP permit. The vessel must be named on a valid LLP permit authorizing the vessel to engage in trawling for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea. If the vessel is more than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA, the vessel must be named on a valid LLP permit endorsed for the AI to engage in trawling for pollock in the AI; and

(iii) Permit sanctions. The vessel has no permit sanctions that otherwise make it ineligible to engage in fishing for pollock in the BSAI.

(2) Landing requirements—(i) Active vessels. The vessel delivered more pollock harvested in the BS inshore directed pollock fishery to the AFA inshore processor designated under paragraph (l)(6)(ii)(B) of this section than to any other shoreside processor or stationary floating processor during the year prior to the year in which the cooperative fishing permit will be in effect; or

(ii) Inactive vessels. The vessel delivered more pollock harvested in the BS inshore directed pollock fishery to the AFA inshore processor designated under paragraph (l)(6)(ii)(B) of this section than to any other shoreside processor or stationary floating processor during the last year in which the vessel delivered BS pollock harvested in the BS directed pollock fishery to an AFA inshore processor.

(iii) Harvests under contract to a cooperative. Any landings made by a vessel operating under contract to an inshore cooperative in which it was not a member will not be used to determine eligibility under paragraph (l)(6)(ii)(D)(2).

(3) AFA replacement catcher vessels. The vessel is an AFA replacement vessel for a catcher vessel that met the permit and landing requirements in paragraphs (l)(6)(ii)(D)(1) and (l)(6)(ii)(D)(2) of this section;

(4) AFA lost catcher vessels. In the event of a total loss or constructive loss of an AFA catcher vessel with an inshore endorsement, the owner of the lost vessel has an AFA catcher vessel permit with an inshore endorsement for the lost vessel that is valid pursuant to paragraph (l)(1)(ii)(B)(3) of this section, and the inshore cooperative shows:

(i) The vessel was lost during a year when the vessel was designated on an AFA inshore cooperative fishing permit issued to the cooperative submitting the application; or

(ii) The vessel was lost during a year when the vessel was not designated on any AFA inshore cooperative fishing permit and when the vessel delivered more pollock to the AFA inshore processor designated by the inshore cooperative under paragraph (l)(6)(ii)(B) of this section than to any other processor; or

(iii) The vessel was lost during a year when the vessel was not designated on any AFA inshore cooperative fishing permit and when the vessel had made no deliveries of pollock and the owner of the lost vessel has assigned the catch history of the lost vessel to the inshore cooperative that submits the application.

(E) Business review letter. A copy of a letter from a party to the contract requesting a business review letter on the fishery cooperative from the Department of Justice and of any response to such request;

(F) Vessel information. For each cooperative catcher vessel member: Vessel name, ADF&G registration number, USCG documentation number, AFA permit number; and

(G) Certification of notary and applicant. Signature and printed name of cooperative representative, date of signature, and notary stamp or seal, signature and date commission expires of a notary public.

(iii) Duration of cooperative fishing permits. Inshore cooperative fishing permits are valid for 1 calendar year.

(iv) Addition or subtraction of vessels. The cooperative representative must submit a new application to add or subtract a catcher vessel to or from an inshore cooperative fishing permit to the Regional Administrator prior to the application deadline. Upon approval by the Regional Administrator, NMFS will issue an amended cooperative fishing permit.

(v) Application deadline. An inshore cooperative fishing permit application and any subsequent contract amendments that add or subtract vessels must be received by the Regional Administrator by December 1 prior to the year in which the inshore cooperative fishing permit will be in effect. Inshore cooperative fishing permit applications or amendments to inshore fishing cooperative permits received after December 1 will not be accepted by the Regional Administrator for the subsequent fishing year.

(7) AFA rebuilt vessels, AFA replacement vessels, and removal of inshore AFA catcher vessels—(i) AFA rebuilt vessels. (A) To improve vessel safety or to improve operational efficiency, including fuel efficiency, the owner of an AFA vessel may rebuild the vessel. If the owner of an AFA vessel rebuilds the vessel, the owner must notify NMFS within 30 days of the issuance of the vessel documentation for the AFA rebuilt vessel and must provide NMFS with a copy of the vessel documentation for the rebuilt vessel. If the owner of the AFA rebuilt vessel provides NMFS with information demonstrating that the AFA rebuilt vessel is documented with a fishery endorsement issued under 46 U.S.C. 12113, NMFS will acknowledge receipt of the notification and inform the owner that the AFA permit issued to the vessel before rebuilding is valid and can be used on the AFA rebuilt vessel.

(B) Except as provided in paragraph (l)(7)(i)(C) and paragraph (l)(7)(i)(D) of this section, the owner of an AFA rebuilt vessel will be subject to the same requirements that applied to the vessel before rebuilding and will be eligible to use the AFA rebuilt vessel in the same manner as the vessel before rebuilding.

(C) An AFA rebuilt vessel is exempt from the maximum length overall (MLOA) restriction on an LLP groundfish license with a Bering Sea area endorsement or an Aleutian Islands area endorsement when the AFA rebuilt vessel is conducting directed fishing for groundfish in the BSAI pursuant to that LLP groundfish license and the LLP groundfish license specifies the exemption.

(D) If an AFA rebuilt catcher vessel is equal to or greater than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA, the AFA rebuilt catcher vessel will be subject to the catcher vessel exclusive fishing seasons for pollock in 50 CFR 679.23(i) and will not be exempt from 50 CFR 679.23(i) even if the vessel before rebuilding was less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA and was exempt from 50 CFR 679.23(i).

(ii) AFA replacement vessels. (A) To improve vessel safety or to improve operational efficiency, including fuel efficiency, the owner of an AFA vessel may replace the AFA vessel with a vessel that is documented with a fishery endorsement issued under 46 U.S.C. 12113.

(B) Upon approval of an application to replace an AFA vessel pursuant to paragraph (l)(7) of this section and except as provided in paragraph (l)(7)(ii)(C), paragraph (l)(7)(ii)(D), and paragraph (l)(7)(E) of this section, the owner of an AFA replacement vessel will be subject to the same requirements that applied to the replaced vessel and will be eligible to use the AFA replacement vessel in the same manner as the replaced vessel. If the AFA replacement vessel is not already designated on an AFA permit, the Regional Administrator will issue an AFA permit to the owner of the AFA replacement vessel. The AFA permit that designated the replaced, or former, AFA vessel will be revoked.

(C) An AFA replacement vessel is exempt from the maximum length overall (MLOA) restriction on an LLP groundfish license with a Bering Sea area endorsement or an Aleutian Islands area endorsement when the AFA replacement vessel is conducting directed fishing for groundfish in the BSAI pursuant to that LLP groundfish license and the LLP groundfish license specifies an exemption from the MLOA restriction for the AFA replacement vessel.

(D) If an AFA replacement catcher vessel is equal to or greater than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA, the AFA replacement catcher vessel will be subject to the catcher vessel exclusive fishing seasons for pollock in 50 CFR 679.23(i) and will not be exempt from 50 CFR 679.23(i), even if the replaced vessel was less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA and was exempt from 50 CFR 679.23(i).

(E) An AFA replacement catcher vessel for an AFA catcher vessel will have the same sideboard exemptions, if any, as the replaced AFA catcher vessel, except that if the AFA replacement vessel was already designated on an AFA permit as exempt from sideboard limits, the AFA replacement vessel will maintain its exemption even if the replaced vessel was not exempt from sideboard limits.

(iii) Removal of AFA catcher vessel from the directed pollock fishery. (A) The owner of a catcher vessel that is designated on an AFA catcher vessel permit with an inshore endorsement may remove the catcher vessel from the directed pollock fishery, subject to the requirements in paragraphs (B), (C), and (D) of this paragraph (l)(7)(iii).

(B) The owner of the removed catcher vessel must direct NMFS to assign the non-CDQ inshore pollock catch history in the BSAI of the removed vessel to one or more catcher vessels in the inshore fishery cooperative to which the removed vessel belonged at the time of the application for removal.

(C) Except for the assignment of the pollock catch history of the removed catcher vessel in paragraph (l)(7)(iii)(B) of this section, all claims relating to the catch history of the removed catcher vessel in the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska, including any claims to an exemption from AFA sideboard limitations, will be permanently extinguished upon NMFS' approval of the application to remove the catcher vessel and the AFA permit that was held by the owner of the removed catcher vessel will be revoked.

(D) The catcher vessel or vessels that are assigned the catch history of the removed catcher vessel cannot be removed from the fishery cooperative to which the removed catcher vessel belonged for a period of one year from the date that NMFS assigned the catch history of the removed catcher vessel to that vessel or vessels.

(iv) Replaced vessels and removed vessels. An AFA vessel that is replaced or removed under paragraph (l)(7) of this section is permanently ineligible to receive any permit to participate in any fishery in the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska unless the replaced or removed vessel reenters the directed pollock fishery as a replacement vessel under paragraph (l)(7) of this section.

(v) Application. To notify NMFS that the owner of an AFA vessel has rebuilt the AFA vessel, the owner of the AFA vessel must submit a complete application. To replace an AFA vessel with another vessel, NMFS must receive a complete application from the owner of the vessel that is being replaced. To remove an AFA catcher vessel from the directed pollock fishery, NMFS must receive a complete application from the owner of the vessel that is to be removed. An application must contain the information specified on the application form, with all required fields accurately completed and all required documentation attached. The application must be submitted to NMFS using the methods described on the application. The application referred to in this paragraph is “American Fisheries Act (AFA) Permit: Rebuilt, Replacement, or Removed Vessel Application.”

(8) Application evaluations and appeals—(i) Initial evaluation. The Regional Administrator will evaluate an application submitted in accord with paragraph (l) of this section. If the Regional Administrator determines that the applicant meets the requirements for NMFS to take the action requested on the application, NMFS will approve the application. If the Regional Administrator determines that the applicant has submitted claims based on inconsistent information or fails to submit the information specified in the application, the applicant will be provided a single 30-day evidentiary period to submit evidence to establish that the applicant meets the requirements for NMFS to take the requested action. The burden is on the applicant to establish that the applicant meets the criteria in the regulation for NMFS to take the action requested by the applicant.

(ii) Additional information and evidence. The Regional Administrator will evaluate the additional information or evidence submitted by the applicant within the 30-day evidentiary period. If the Regional Administrator determines that the additional information or evidence meets the applicant's burden of proof, the application will be approved. However, if the Regional Administrator determines that the applicant did not meet the applicant's burden of proof, the applicant will be notified by an initial administrative determination (IAD) that the application is denied.

(iii) Initial administrative determinations (IAD). The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 30-day evidentiary period if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the applicant fails to support the applicant's claims and is insufficient to establish that the applicant meets the requirements for an AFA permit or for NMFS to approve the withdrawal of a catcher vessel, or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of the applicant's 30-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies in the application, including any deficiencies with the information, the evidence submitted in support of the information, or the revised application. An applicant who receives an IAD may appeal under the appeals procedures set out at 15 CFR part 906.

(iv) Effect of cooperative allocation appeals. An AFA inshore cooperative may appeal the pollock quota share issued to the cooperative under § 679.62; however, final agency action on the appeal must occur prior to December 1 for the results of the appeal to take effect during the subsequent fishing year.

(m) Participation in the AI directed pollock fishery—(1) Applicability. Harvesting pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery and processing pollock taken in the AI directed pollock fishery is authorized only for those harvesters and processors that are selected by the Aleut Corporation and approved by the Regional Administrator to harvest pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery or to process pollock taken in the AI directed pollock fishery.

(2) Annual selection of participants by the Aleut Corporation. Each year and at least 14 days before harvesting pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery or processing pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery, a participant must be selected by the Aleut Corporation and the following information for each participant must be submitted by the designated contact to the Regional Administrator:

(i) Vessel or processor name;

(ii) Federal fisheries permits number issued under paragraph (b) of this section or Federal processor permit issued under paragraph (f) of this section; and

(iii) The fishing year which participation approval is requested.

(3) Participant approval. (i) Participants must have:

(A) A valid Federal fisheries permit or Federal processing permit, pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (f) of this section, respectively;

(B) A valid fishery endorsement on the vessel's U.S. Coast Guard documentation for the vessel's participation in the U. S. fishery; and

(C) A valid AFA permit under: paragraph (l)(2) of this section for all catcher/processors, paragraph (l)(3) of this section for all catcher vessels greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, or paragraph (l)(4) of this section for all motherships.

(ii) Each participant selected by the Aleut Corporation that meets the conditions under paragraph (m)(3)(i) of this section will be approved by the Regional Administrator for participation in the AI directed pollock fishery.

(iii) The Regional Administrator will provide to the designated contact for the Aleut Corporation the identity of each approved participant and the date upon which participation in the AI directed pollock fishery may commence. The Aleut Corporation shall forward to the approved participants a copy of NMFS's approval letter before harvesting or processing occurs.

(iv) A copy of NMFS' approval letter for participating in the AI directed pollock fishery during the fishing year must be on site at the shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, or on board the vessel at all times and must be presented for inspection upon the request of any authorized officer.

(4) Participant disapproval. (i) The Regional Administrator shall disapprove any participant that does not meet the conditions under paragraph (m)(3)(i) of this section. The Regional Administrator will notify in writing the Aleut Corporation and the selected participant of the disapproval. The selected participant will have 30 days in which to submit proof of meeting the requirements to participate in the AI directed pollock fishery.

(ii) The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an initial administrative determinations (IAD) to the selected participant following the expiration of the 30-day evidentiary period if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the selected participant fails to support the participant's claims and is insufficient to rebut the presumption that the disapproval for participation in the AI directed pollock fishery is correct or if the additional information or evidence is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 30-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies in the information required, including the evidence submitted in support of the information. The IAD also will indicate which claims cannot be approved based on the available information or evidence. A participant who receives an IAD may appeal under the appeals procedures set out at § 679.43. A participant who avails himself or herself of the opportunity to appeal an IAD will receive an interim approval from NMFS authorizing participation in the AI directed pollock fishery. An interim approval based on claims contrary to the final determination will expire upon final agency determination.

(n) Rockfish Program—(1) Cooperative quota (CQ). (i) A CQ permit is issued annually to a rockfish cooperative if the members of that rockfish cooperative have submitted a complete and timely application for CQ as described in § 679.81(f) that is approved by the Regional Administrator. A CQ permit authorizes a rockfish cooperative to participate in the Rockfish Program. The CQ permit will indicate the amount of rockfish primary species and rockfish secondary species that may be harvested by the rockfish cooperative, and the amount of rockfish halibut PSC that may be used by the rockfish cooperative. The CQ permit will list the members of the rockfish cooperative, the vessels that are authorized to fish under the CQ permit for that rockfish cooperative, and the rockfish processor with whom that rockfish cooperative is associated, if applicable.

(ii) A CQ permit is valid only until the end of the calendar year for which the CQ permit is issued;

(iii) A legible copy of the CQ permit must be carried on board the vessel(s) used by the rockfish cooperative.

(2) Rockfish cooperative termination of fishing declaration. (i) A rockfish cooperative may choose to terminate its CQ permit through a declaration submitted to NMFS.

(ii) This declaration may only be submitted to NMFS electronically. The rockfish cooperative's designated representative must log into the online system and create a request for termination of fishing declaration as indicated on the computer screen. By using the rockfish cooperative's NMFS ID and password, and submitting the termination of fishing declaration request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

(o) Amendment 80 Program—(1) Amendment 80 QS permit. (i) An Amendment 80 QS permit is issued to a person who submits a timely and complete application for Amendment 80 QS that is approved by NMFS under § 679.90(b).

(ii) An Amendment 80 QS permit is assigned to the owner of an Amendment 80 vessel that gave rise to that permit under the provisions of § 679.90(b), or its replacement under § 679.4(o)(4), unless the Amendment 80 QS permit is assigned to the holder of an LLP license originally assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel under the provisions of § 679.90(d) or § 679.90(e).

(iii) If an Amendment 80 QS permit is assigned to the owner of an Amendment 80 vessel the Amendment 80 QS permit will designate the Amendment 80 vessel to which that permit is assigned.

(iv) If an Amendment 80 QS permit is assigned to the holder of an LLP license originally assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel under the provisions of § 679.90(d)(2)(ii) or § 679.90(e)(4), the Amendment 80 QS permit will be permanently affixed to the LLP license originally assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel which will be designated as an Amendment 80 LLP/QS license.

(v) Amendment 80 QS units assigned to an Amendment 80 QS permit are non-severable from that Amendment 80 QS permit and if transferred, the Amendment 80 QS permit must be transferred in its entirety to another person under the provisions of § 679.90(d) or § 679.90(e).

(vi) A person must hold an Amendment 80 LLP license to hold an Amendment 80 QS permit.

(vii) The owner of an Amendment 80 vessel must designate the Amendment 80 vessel on an Amendment 80 QS permit and on an Amendment 80 LLP license, or designate the Amendment 80 vessel on the Amendment 80 LLP/QS license to use that Amendment 80 vessel in an Amendment 80 fishery.

(2) Amendment 80 Cooperative quota (CQ) permit. (i) A CQ permit is issued annually to an Amendment 80 cooperative that submits a timely and complete application for CQ that is approved by NMFS as described at § 679.91(b)(4).

(ii) A CQ permit authorizes an Amendment 80 cooperative to catch a quantity of fish expressed as a portion of the ITAC and halibut and crab PSC that may be held for exclusive use by that Amendment 80 cooperative.

(iii) A CQ permit will indicate the amount of Amendment 80 species that may be caught by the Amendment 80 cooperative, and the amount of Amendment 80 crab and halibut PSC that may be used by the Amendment 80 cooperative. The CQ permit will list the members of the Amendment 80 cooperative, Amendment 80 LLP licenses, Amendment 80 QS permits, and Amendment 80 vessels that are assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative.

(iv) The amount of CQ listed on the CQ permit will be based on:

(A) The amount of Amendment 80 QS units held by all members of the Amendment 80 cooperative designated on a timely and complete application for CQ as described under § 679.91(b) that is approved by NMFS;

(B) The Amendment 80 QS units derived from Amendment 80 QS permits held by members of the Amendment 80 cooperative who have submitted a timely and complete EDR for all Amendment 80 QS permits held by that member as described under § 679.94; and

(C) The amount of CQ as modified by an application for CQ transfer as described under § 679.91(g) that is approved by NMFS.

(v) A CQ permit is valid until whichever of the following occurs first:

(A) Until the end of the year for which the CQ permit is issued; or

(B) Until the permit is revoked, suspended, or modified pursuant to § 679.43 or under 15 CFR part 904.

(vi) A legible copy of the CQ permit must be carried onboard an Amendment 80 vessel assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative when fishing in the BSAI or adjacent waters open by the State of Alaska for which it adopts a Federal fishing season.

(3) Amendment 80 limited access fishery permit. (i) An Amendment 80 limited access fishery permit is required for an Amendment 80 QS holder to catch, process, and receive Amendment 80 species assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery, or use halibut and crab PSC assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery. An Amendment 80 limited access fishery permit is issued annually to an Amendment 80 QS holder who:

(A) Has submitted a timely and complete application for the Amendment 80 limited access fishery as described at § 679.91(b)(4) that is approved by NMFS, or

(B) Is assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery by NMFS as described at § 679.91(a)(3)(ii); and

(C) Has submitted a timely and complete EDR for all Amendment 80 QS permits held by that person as described under § 679.94.

(ii) An Amendment 80 limited access fishery permit is valid until whichever of the following occurs first:

(A) Until the end of the year for which the Amendment 80 limited access fishery permit is issued; or

(B) Until the permit is revoked, suspended, or modified pursuant to § 679.43 or under 15 CFR part 904.

(iii) A legible copy of the Amendment 80 limited access fishery permit must be carried onboard an Amendment 80 vessel assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery when fishing in the BSAI or adjacent waters open by the State of Alaska for which it adopts a Federal fishing season.

(4) Amendment 80 Replacement Vessel. (i) The owner of an Amendment 80 vessel may replace such vessel for any purpose. All Federal fishery regulations applicable to the replaced vessel apply to the replacement vessel, except as described at § 679.92(d)(2)(ii) if applicable. A vessel that replaces an Amendment 80 vessel will be approved by the Regional Administrator as an Amendment 80 vessel following the submission and approval of a completed application for an Amendment 80 Replacement Vessel, provided that:

(A) The replacement vessel does not exceed 295 ft. (89.9 m) LOA;

(B) The replacement vessel was built in the United States and, if ever rebuilt, rebuilt in the United States;

(C) The applicant provides documentation that the replacement vessel complies with U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements applicable to processing vessels operating in the Amendment 80 sector or, if unable to provide such documentation, the applicant provides documentation that the replacement vessel meets the requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard's Alternative Compliance and Safety Agreement; and

(D) The replacement vessel is not a vessel listed at section 208(e)(1) through (20) of the American Fisheries Act or permitted under paragraph (l)(2)(i) of this section; is not an AFA replacement vessel designated on a listed AFA catcher/processor permit under paragraph (l)(2)of this section; and is not an AFA catcher vessel permitted under paragraph (l)(3) of this section.

(ii) Application for Amendment 80 Replacement Vessel. A person who wishes to replace an Amendment 80 vessel must submit to NMFS a complete Application for Amendment 80 Replacement Vessel. An application must contain the information specified on the form, with all required fields accurately completed and all required documentation attached. This application must be submitted to NMFS using the methods described on the application.

(5) Application evaluations and appeals—(i) Initial evaluation. The Regional Administrator will evaluate an application for an Amendment 80 replacement vessel submitted in accordance with paragraph (o)(4) of this section. If the vessel listed in the application does not meet the requirements for an Amendment 80 replacement vessel at § 679.4(o)(4), NMFS will not approve the application. An applicant who submits claims based on inconsistent information or fails to submit the information specified in the application for an Amendment 80 replacement vessel will be provided a single 30-day evidentiary period to submit evidence to establish that the vessel meets the requirements to be an Amendment 80 replacement vessel. The burden is on the applicant to establish that the vessel meets the criteria to become a replacement vessel.

(ii) Additional information and evidence. The Regional Administrator will evaluate the additional information or evidence to support an application for Amendment 80 replacement vessel submitted within the 30-day evidentiary period. If the Regional Administrator determines that the additional information or evidence meets the applicant's burden of proving that the vessel meets the requirements to become an Amendment 80 Replacement Vessel, the application will be approved. However, if the Regional Administrator determines that the vessel does not meet the requirements to become an Amendment 80 Replacement Vessel, the applicant will be notified by an initial administrative determination (IAD) that the application for replacement vessel is denied.

(iii) Initial administrative determinations (IAD). The Regional Administrator will prepare and send an IAD to the applicant following the expiration of the 30-day evidentiary period if the Regional Administrator determines that the information or evidence provided by the applicant fails to support the applicant's claims and is insufficient to establish that the vessel meets the requirements for an Amendment 80 replacement vessel or if the additional information, evidence, or revised application is not provided within the time period specified in the letter that notifies the applicant of his or her 30-day evidentiary period. The IAD will indicate the deficiencies in the application, including any deficiencies with the information, the evidence submitted in support of the information, or the revised application. An applicant who receives an IAD may appeal under the appeals procedures set out at § 679.43.

(p) Flatfish Exchange Application—(1) Completed application. NMFS will process only completed Flatfish Exchange Applications submitted by CDQ groups or Amendment 80 cooperatives.

(2) Certification. The designated representative must log into the Alaska Region Online application Web site and complete an exchange application form provided on the Web site. By using the NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key and submitting the Flatfish Exchange Application, the designated representative certifies that all information submitted is true, correct, and complete.

(3) Approval. A CDQ group or Amendment 80 cooperative must receive NMFS' approval of a Flatfish Exchange Application prior to using the CDQ or Amendment 80 CQ subject to the Flatfish Exchange. NMFS will approve the Flatfish Exchange Application if:

(i) The CDQ group has sufficient CDQ ABC reserves of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole;

(ii) The Amendment 80 cooperative has sufficient Amendment 80 ABC reserves of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole;

(iii) The CDQ group receiving flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole from its CDQ ABC reserve exchanges an equal amount of unused CDQ of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole, other than the species received from its CDQ ABC reserve;

(iv) The Amendment 80 cooperative receiving flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole from its Amendment 80 ABC reserve exchanges an equal amount of unused Amendment 80 CQ of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole, other than the species received from its Amendment 80 ABC reserve;

(v) The CDQ group or Amendment 80 cooperative has not received at least three approved Flatfish Exchanges during that calendar year, as described at paragraph (p)(5) of this section;

(vi) Approval of the Flatfish Exchange Application will not cause flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole to exceed an ABC or an ABC reserve for that species; and

(vii) NMFS receives a completed Flatfish Exchange Application from a CDQ group or Amendment 80 cooperative during the calendar year for which the Flatfish Exchange would be effective, and NMFS can approve that Flatfish Exchange Application before the end of the calendar year in which the Flatfish Exchange would be effective.

(4) Notification. (i) No exchange, adjustment, or apportionment of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole may take effect until a notice of adjustment or apportionment has been published in the Federal Register with a statement of the findings on which the apportionment or adjustment is based.

(ii) Each NMFS approved Flatfish Exchange is debited as one Flatfish Exchange. An approved Flatfish Exchange is effective on the date of publication of the notice of adjustment or apportionment in the Federal Register.

(5) CDQ ABC reserve and Amendment 80 ABC reserve exchange limitations. Each CDQ group and each Amendment 80 cooperative is limited to no more than three Flatfish Exchanges per calendar year.

(q) PCTC Program permits—(1) PCTC Program cooperative quota permits. (i) A CQ permit is issued annually to a PCTC Program cooperative that submits a complete and timely application for CQ as described at § 679.131 that is approved by the Regional Administrator. A CQ permit authorizes a PCTC Program cooperative to participate in the PCTC Program. The CQ permit will indicate the amount of Pacific cod that may be harvested by the PCTC Program cooperative, and the amount of halibut PSC and crab PSC that may be used by the PCTC Program cooperative. The CQ permit will list the members of the PCTC Program cooperative, the trawl catcher vessels that are authorized to fish under the CQ permit for that cooperative, and the PCTC Program processor(s) with whom that cooperative is associated.

(ii) A CQ permit is valid only until the end of the BSAI Pacific cod B season for the year in which the CQ permit is issued;

(iii) A legible copy of a valid CQ permit must be carried on board the vessel(s) used by the PCTC Program cooperative.

(2) PCTC Program quota share permits for processors. (i) NMFS will issue PCTC Program QS permits to eligible processors if the owner(s) submits to the Regional Administrator a completed application for PCTC Program QS as described at § 679.130 that is subsequently approved.

(ii) A processor may associate the QS assigned to the PCTC Program QS permit with a PCTC Program cooperative as described at § 679.131.

(a) General R&R requirements. R&R requirements include, but are not limited to, paper and electronic documentation, logbooks, forms, reports, receipts, computer printouts, and requests for inspection described in this section and in § 679.28.

(1) Groundfish logbooks and forms. (i) The Regional Administrator will prescribe and provide groundfish logbooks required under this section. All groundfish forms required under this section are available from the Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov or may be requested by calling the Sustainable Fisheries Division at 907-586-7228 or faxing 907-586-7465. The forms may be completed online, printed, and mailed or faxed to NMFS at the address or fax number shown on the form. The forms also may be completed online, saved as a file, and submitted to NMFS as an attachment to an e-mail to the e-mail address shown on the form.

(ii) Current editions. The operator must use the current edition of the logbooks and current format of the forms. Upon approval from the Regional Administrator NMFS-approved electronic versions of the forms may be used. Upon written notification and approval by the Regional Administrator, logbooks from the previous year may be used.

(iii) Management program defined. A “management program” is a unique fishery program with a specific management strategy and/or allocation. Harvest that occurred under the management programs listed in the following table must be recorded separately in the logbooks, forms, and eLandings.

(2) Responsibility. (i) The operator of a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, or tender vessel (hereafter referred to as the operator) and the manager of a shoreside processor, SFP, or buying station (hereafter referred to as the manager) are each responsible for complying with the applicable R&R requirements in this section and in § 679.28.

(ii) The owner of a vessel, shoreside processor, SFP, buying station, or tender vessel is responsible for compliance and must ensure that the operator, manager, or representative (see paragraph (b) of this section) complies with the applicable R&R requirements in this section and in § 679.28.

(iii) The IFQ permit holder, IFQ hired master permit holder, or Registered Buyer must comply with the R&R requirements provided at paragraphs (e), (g), (k), and (l) of this section.

(iv) The CDQ permit holder, CDQ hired master permit holder, or Registered Buyer must comply with the R&R requirements provided at paragraphs (e), (g), (k), and (l)(1) through (6) of this section.

(3) Fish to be recorded and reported. The operator or manager must record and report the following information (see paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section) for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this part), prohibited species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see Table 2c to this part), grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part), squids (see Table 2c to this part), and sculpins (see Table 2c to this part). The operator or manager may record and report the following information (see paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section) for non-groundfish (see Table 2d to this part):

(i) Harvest information;

(ii) Receipt information from catcher vessels, buying stations, and tender vessels including fish received from vessels not required to have an FFP; and fish received under contract for handling or processing for another processor;

(iii) Discard or disposition information, including fish reported but not delivered to the operator or manager, e.g., fish used onboard a vessel, when receiving catch from a catcher vessel, buying station, or tender vessel; and

(iv) Transfer information, including fish transferred out of the facility or off the vessel.

(4) Exemptions—(i) Catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA. The owner and operator of a catcher vessel less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA are required to comply with the vessel activity report described at paragraph (k) of this section, but otherwise are not required to comply with the R&R requirements of this section, except for:

(A) Vessels using pot gear as described in paragraph (c)(3)(i)(B)(1) of this section;

(B) Vessels participating in the PCTC Program as described in paragraph (x) of this section; and

(C) Catcher vessels in the trawl EM category as described in § 679.51(g).

(ii) Catcher vessels that take groundfish in crab pot gear for use as crab bait on that vessel. (A) Owners or operators of catcher vessels who, when crab is open anywhere or in the same area as an open crab season, take groundfish in crab pot gear for use as crab bait onboard their same vessels, and the bait is neither transferred nor sold, are not required to comply with R&R requirements of this section.

(B) This exemption does not apply to fishermen who:

(1) Catch groundfish for bait during an open crab season and sell that groundfish or transfer it to another vessel, or

(2) Participate in a directed fishery for groundfish using any gear type during periods that are outside an open crab season for use as crab bait onboard their vessel.

(C) No groundfish species listed by NMFS as “prohibited” in a management or regulatory area may be taken in that area for use as bait.

(5) Inspection and retention of records—(i) Inspection of records. The operator or manager must make available for inspection the R&R documentation in this section and in § 679.28 upon the request of an authorized officer.

(ii) Retention of records. The operator or manager must retain the R&R documentation described in this section and in § 679.28:

(A) On site. Retain these records on site at the shoreside processor or SFP, or onboard the vessel until the end of the fishing year during which the records were made and for as long thereafter as fish or fish products recorded in the R&R documentation are retained.

(B) For 3 years. Retain these records for 3 years after the end of the fishing year during which the records were made.

(6) Maintenance of records. The operator or manager must maintain all records described in this section and in § 679.28 in English and in a legible, timely, and accurate manner, based on Alaska local time (A.l.t.); if handwritten, in indelible ink; if computer-generated, as a legible printed paper copy.

(7) Custom processing. The manager of a shoreside processor or SFP or the operator of a mothership must record products that result from custom processing for another person in eLandings consistently throughout a fishing year using one of the following two methods:

(i) Combined records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish routinely in eLandings using processor name, FFP or FPP number, and ADF&G processor code; or

(ii) Separate records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish in eLandings identified by the name, FPP number or FFP number, and ADF&G processor code of the associated business entity.

(b) Representative. The operator of a catcher vessel, mothership, catcher/processor, or tender vessel or manager of a shoreside processor, SFP, or buying station may identify one contact person to complete the logbook and forms and to respond to inquiries from NMFS. Designation of a representative under this paragraph (b) does not relieve the owner, operator, or manager of responsibility for compliance under paragraphs (a)(1) through (6) of this section.

(c) Logbooks—(1) Requirements—(i) Use of two or more vessel logbooks of same gear type. If using more than one logbook of the same gear type in a fishing year onboard a vessel, the operator must ensure that the page numbers follow the consecutive order of the previous logbook.

(ii) Use of two or more vessel logbooks of different gear types. If two or more different gear types are used onboard a vessel in a fishing year, the operator(s) of this vessel may use the same vessel logbooks for different gear types, provided different gear types are recorded on separate pages.

(iii) Two vessel logbooks for pair trawl. If two vessels are dragging a trawl between them (pair trawl), the operator of each vessel must maintain a separate logbook to record the amount of the catch retained and fish discarded by that vessel. Each of the two logbooks must be separately paginated.

(iv) Two logbooks of different operation. If a vessel functions both as a mothership and as a catcher/processor in the same fishing year, the operator(s) must maintain two logbooks, a separate logbook for each operation type, each separately paginated.

(v) Alteration of logbook information. (A) Except as described in paragraph (c)(1)(v)(B) of this section, no person may alter or change any entry or record in a logbook.

(B) An inaccurate or incorrect entry or record must be corrected by lining out the original and inserting the correction, provided that the original entry or record remains legible. All corrections must be made in ink.

(vi) Logsheet distribution and submittal. (A) No person except an authorized officer may remove any original white logsheet of any logbook.

(B) The operator must distribute and submit logsheets as indicated in the following table:

(2) Recording active and inactive time periods in the DFL or DCPL—(i) Account for each day of the fishing year. The operator must account for each day of the fishing year, January 1 through December 31, in the DFL or DCPL and indicate whether the vessel or processor was active or inactive during the time period.

(A) An active period by fishing category is defined in the following paragraphs under this section:

(B) An inactive period is defined as a time period other than active.

(ii) Record January 1 on page 1. The operator must record the first day of the fishing year, January 1, on page one of the DFL or DCPL regardless of whether the vessel or processor was active or inactive. The operator must record time periods consecutively.

(iii) Required information for inactive periods. If inactive, the operator must record the following information (see paragraphs (c)(2)(iii)(A) through (F) of this section) on one logsheet in the DFL or DCPL:

(A) If a catcher vessel, record vessel name, ADF&G vessel registration number, FFP number or Federal crab vessel permit number, operator printed name, operator signature, and page number.

(B) If a mothership or catcher/processor, record vessel name, ADF&G processor code, FFP number, operator printed name, operator signature, and page number.

(C) Mark “inactive.”

(D) Record the date (mm/dd) of the first day when inactive under “Start date.”

(E) Write brief explanation why inactive, e.g., bad weather or equipment failure. If inactive due to surrender of a FFP or FPP, write “surrender of permit” as the reason for inactivity.

(F) Record the date (mm/dd) of the last day when inactive under “End date.”

(iv) Inactive two or more quarters. If the inactive time period extends across two or more successive quarters, the operator must complete a logsheet for each inactive quarter. The first logsheet must indicate the first and last day of the first inactive quarter. Successive logsheets must indicate the first and last day of its respective inactive quarter.

(3) Longline and pot gear catcher vessel DFL and catcher/processor DCPL—(i) Responsibility—(A) Groundfish fisheries. (1) Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) or greater LOA, that is required to have an FFP under § 679.4(b) and that is using longline or pot gear to harvest groundfish, must maintain a longline and pot gear DFL and may use the same logbook for longline and pot gear, provided different gear types are recorded on separate pages.

(2) Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section, the operator of a catcher/processor that is required to have an FFP under § 679.4(b) and that is using longline or pot gear to harvest groundfish must use a combination of catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL and eLandings to record and report daily processor identification information, catch-by-set information, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data.

(B) IFQ or CDQ halibut, or IFQ or CDQ sablefish fisheries. (1) The operator of a catcher vessel less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, using longline pot gear to harvest IFQ sablefish or IFQ halibut in the GOA, or using pot gear to harvest IFQ or CDQ halibut or IFQ or CDQ sablefish in the BSAI, must maintain a longline and pot gear DFL according to paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(A)(2) of this section and may use the same logbook for longline and pot gear, provided different gear types are recorded on separate pages.

(2) Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) or greater LOA in the GOA must maintain a longline and pot gear DFL according to paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(A)(2) of this section, when using longline gear or longline pot gear to harvest IFQ sablefish and when using gear composed of lines with hooks attached, setline gear (IPHC), or longline pot gear to harvest IFQ halibut.

(3) Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) or greater LOA in the BSAI must maintain a longline and pot gear DFL according to paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(A)(2) of this section, when using hook-and-line gear or pot gear to harvest IFQ or CDQ sablefish, and when using pot gear or gear composed of lines with hooks attached or setline gear (IPHC) to harvest IFQ halibut or CDQ halibut.

(4) Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section, the operator of a catcher/processor in the GOA must use a combination of a catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL and eLandings according to paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(B)(2) of this section, when using longline gear or longline pot gear to harvest IFQ sablefish and when using gear composed of lines with hooks attached, setline gear (IPHC), or longline pot gear to harvest IFQ halibut.

(5) Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section, the operator of a catcher/processor in the BSAI must use a combination of a catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL and eLandings according to (c)(3)(iv)(B)(2) of this section, when using hook-and-line gear or pot gear to harvest IFQ sablefish, and when using gear composed of lines with hooks attached or setline gear (IPHC) to harvest IFQ halibut or CDQ halibut.

(C) CR crab fisheries. The operator of a catcher vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) or greater LOA, using pot gear to harvest CR crab from the BSAI must maintain a longline and pot gear DFL.

(ii) Reporting time limits—(A) Catcher vessel. The operator of a catcher vessel using longline or pot gear must record in the DFL the information from the following table for each set within the specified time limit:

(B) Catcher/processor. The operator of a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear must record in the DCPL or submit via eLandings the information from the following table for each set within the specified time limit:

(iii) Required information, if inactive. See paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(iv) Required information, if active—(A) Catcher vessel, longline or pot gear. (1) A catcher vessel using longline or pot gear is active when gear remains on the grounds in a reporting area (except reporting areas 300, 400, 550, or 690), regardless of the vessel location.

(2) If a catcher vessel identified in paragraph (c)(3)(i)(A)(1) or (c)(3)(i)(B)(1) through (3) of this section is active, the operator must record in the longline and pot gear DFL, for one or more days on each logsheet, the information listed in paragraphs (c)(3)(v), (vi), (viii), and (x) of this section and may use the same logbook for longline and pot gear, provided different gear types are recorded on separate pages.

(3) Retain and record discard quantities over the MRA. When a CV is fishing in an IFQ fishery and the fishery for Pacific cod is closed to directed fishing but not in PSC status in that reporting area as described in § 679.20, the operator must retain and record up to and including the maximum retainable amount (MRA) for Pacific cod as defined in Tables 10 or 11 to this part. Quantities over this amount must be discarded and recorded as discard in the logbook.

(B) Catcher/processor, longline or pot gear. (1) A catcher/processor using longline or pot gear is active when processing or when all or part of the longline or pot gear is in the water.

(2) If a catcher/processor identified in paragraph (c)(3)(i)(A)(2) or (c)(3)(i)(B)(4) through (5) of this section is active, the operator must record in the catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL the information listed in paragraphs (c)(3)(v) and (vi) of this section and must record in eLandings the information listed in paragraphs (c)(3)(v), (vii), and (ix) of this section.

(3) Retain and record discard quantities over the MRA. When a catcher/processor is fishing in an IFQ fishery and the fishery for Pacific cod or rockfish is closed to directed fishing but not in PSC status in that reporting area as described in § 679.20, the operator must retain and record up to and including the MRA for Pacific cod or rockfish as defined in Table 10 or 11 to this part. Quantities over this amount must be discarded and recorded as discard in eLandings.

(v) Identification information—(A) Page number. Number the pages in each logbook consecutively, beginning on the first page of the DFL or DCPL with page 1 for January 1 and continuing for the remainder of the fishing year.

(B) Printed name and signature of operator. The operator's name must be printed in the DFL or DCPL. The operator must sign each completed logsheet of the DFL or DCPL as verification of acceptance of the responsibility required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section

(C) Vessel identification. Name of vessel as displayed in official documentation; FFP number or Federal crab vessel permit number of the vessel; and ADF&G vessel registration number if a catcher vessel or ADF&G processor code if a catcher/processor.

(D) Other permit numbers (if applicable). IFQ permit number of the operator, if any, and each permit number of any IFQ permit on which anyone aboard is authorized to fish; groundfish CDQ number; and halibut CDQ permit number.

(E) Reporting area—(1) Groundfish. Record the Federal reporting area code (see Figures 1 and 3 to this part) where gear retrieval was completed, regardless of where the majority of the set took place. Use a separate logsheet for each reporting area.

(2) IFQ halibut and CDQ halibut. Record the IPHC regulatory area (see Figure 15 to this part) where gear retrieval was completed, regardless of where the majority of the set took place.

(3) CR crab. Leave this field blank.

(F) Crew size. If a catcher vessel, record the number of crew members (including operator), excluding observer(s), on the last day of a trip. If a catcher/processor, record the number of crew members (including operator), excluding observer(s), on the last day of the weekly reporting period.

(G) Gear type. Use a separate logsheet for each gear type. Place a check mark in the box for the gear type used to harvest the fish or crab. Record the information from the following table for the appropriate gear type on the logsheet. If the gear type is the same on subsequent logsheets, place a check mark in the box instead of re-entering the gear type information on the next logsheet.

(H) Management program. Indicate whether harvest occurred under a management program (see paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section). Use a separate logsheet for each management program. If harvest is not under one of the listed management programs, leave blank.

(I) Observer information. Record the number of observers aboard, the name of the observer(s), and the observer cruise number(s).

(vi) Catch-by-set information. The operator must record the following information (see paragraphs (c)(3)(vi)(A) through (L) of this section) for each set (see § 679.2) in the DFL or DCPL. If no catch occurred for a given day, write “no catch.”

(A) Set number. Sequentially by year.

(B) Gear deployment (or to set gear)—(1) Hook-and-line gear begin position. Record date (mm/dd), time (in military format, A.l.t.), and the begin position (in latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude) when the first hook-and-line gear of a set enters the water.

(2) Jig or troll gear begin position. Record date (mm/dd), time (in military format, A.l.t.), and the begin position (latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude) when the jig or troll gear enters the water.

(3) Pot gear begin position. Record date (mm/dd), time (in military format, A.l.t.), and the begin position (latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude) when the pot gear enters the water.

(C) Gear retrieval (or to haul gear)—(1) Hook-and-line gear end position. Date (mm/dd), time (in military format, A.l.t.), and end position coordinates (in latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude), where the last hook-and-line gear of a set leaves the water, regardless of where the majority of the set took place.

(2) Jig or troll gear end position. Date (mm/dd), time (in military format, A.l.t.), and end position coordinates (in latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude) where the jig or troll gear leaves the water.

(3) Pot gear end position. Date (mm/dd), time (in military format, A.l.t.), and end position coordinates (in latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude) where the last pot of a set is retrieved, regardless of where the majority of the set took place.

(D) Begin and end buoy or bag numbers. (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations (see §§ 300.60 through 300.65 of this chapter)).

(E) Begin and end gear depths. Recorded to the nearest fathom (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations (see §§ 300.60 through 300.65 of this chapter)).

(F) Species codes. The operator must record and report required information for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this part), prohibited species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see Table 2c to this part), grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part), squids (see Table 2c to this part), and sculpins (see Table 2c to this part). The operator may record and report information for non-groundfish (see Table 2d to this part).

(G) Target species code. Enter the species code of the intended species to be harvested. Enter only one target species code.

(H) Estimated total hail weight. Enter the estimated hail weight, which is an estimate of the total weight of the entire catch without regard to species. Indicate whether weight is estimated to the nearest pound or to the nearest 0.001 mt.

(I) IR/IU species (see § 679.27). If a catcher/processor, enter species code of IR/IU species and estimated total round weight for each IR/IU species, if applicable; indicate whether weight is estimated to the nearest pound or the nearest 0.001 mt. Use one line to record information for each IR/IU species, including species code and amount of catch. If more than one IR/IU species are to be recorded, the operator must use a separate line for each species.

(J) IFQ halibut and CDQ halibut. Estimated total net weight of IFQ halibut and CDQ halibut to the nearest pound.

(K) IFQ sablefish. Number and estimated total round weight of IFQ sablefish to the nearest pound. Indicate whether IFQ sablefish product is Western cut, Eastern cut, or round weight.

(L) CR crab. If in a CR crab fishery, record the number and scale weight of raw CR crab to the nearest pound.

(vii) Product information, catcher/processor. The operator of a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear must record groundfish product information for all retained groundfish in eLandings (see paragraph (e)(10) of this section).

(viii) Discard or disposition information, catcher vessel. The operator must record in a DFL the discard or disposition information that occurred prior to and during delivery to a buying station, tender vessel, mothership, shoreside processor, or SFP. Discard or disposition information must include the daily weight of groundfish, daily weight of herring PSC, and daily number of PSC animals. If no discard or disposition occurred for a given day, the operator must write “no discards or disposition.”

(A) Enter discard or disposition information by species codes and product codes as follows:

(1) Date (mm/dd) of discard or disposition (day that discard or disposition occurred).

(2) For whole fish discard or disposition of groundfish or Pacific herring PSC, daily estimated total weight, balance forward weight from the previous day, and cumulative total weight since last delivery for each species; indicate whether weight is estimated to the nearest pound or nearest 0.001 mt.

(3) For whole fish discard or disposition of each prohibited species (Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific halibut, king crabs, and Tanner crabs) record the daily estimated total number, balance forward from the previous day, and cumulative total number since the last delivery.

(4) Summarize the weekly cumulative discard and disposition totals of groundfish weights and number of PSC animals separately by reporting area, management program, and gear type. Determine the weekly cumulative total by adding daily totals and the balance carried forward from the day before.

(B) The operator must record “0” or zero balance forward and start a new logsheet after the offload or transfer of all fish or fish product onboard and prior to the beginning of each fishing trip. Nothing shall be carried forward from the previous fishing trip.

(ix) Discard or disposition information, catcher/processor. The operator of a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear must record all discard or disposition information in eLandings (see paragraph (e)(10) of this section).

(x) Catcher vessel delivery information. The operator of a catcher vessel must enter the following information (see paragraphs (c)(3)(x)(A) through (D) of this section) for delivery to a buying station, tender vessel, mothership, shoreside processor, or SFP:

(A) Date (mm/dd) that delivery of harvest was completed.

(B) ADF&G fish ticket issued to operator by the recipient, Registered Buyer, or RCR receiving the delivery.

(C) Name of recipient, Registered Buyer, or RCR.

(D) For the unloading port, enter the name of the port or port code (see Tables 14a and 14b to this part) of delivery location.

(4) Trawl gear catcher vessel DFL and catcher/processor DCPL—(i) Responsibility. (A) Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) or greater LOA, that is required to have an FFP under § 679.4(b), and that is using trawl gear to harvest groundfish must maintain a trawl gear DFL, must complete one or more logsheets per day. Upon notification by the Regional Administrator, a DFL from the previous year may be used.

(B) Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(iv) or (vii) of this section, the operator of a catcher/processor that is required to have an FFP under § 679.4(b) and that is using trawl gear to harvest groundfish is required to use a combination of catcher/processor trawl gear DCPL and eLandings to record and report daily processor identification information, catch-by-haul landing information, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data. Under paragraph (f)(1)(vii) of this section, the operators of AFA catcher/processors or any catcher/processor harvesting pollock CDQ are required to use an ELB and no longer report using a DCPL.

(ii) Reporting time limits—(A) Catcher vessel. The operator of a catcher vessel using trawl gear must record in the DFL the information in the following table for each haul within the specified time limit:

(B) Catcher/processor. The operator of a catcher/processor using trawl gear must record in the DCPL or submit via eLandings the information in the following table for each haul within the specified time limit:

(iii) Required information, if inactive. See paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(iv) Required information, if active—(A) Catcher vessel. (1) A catcher vessel using trawl gear is active when all or part of the trawl net is in the water.

(2) If the catcher vessel identified in paragraph (c)(4)(i)(A) of this section is active, the operator must record for one day per logsheet in the DFL, the information described in paragraphs (c)(4)(v), (vi), (viii), and (x) of this section.

(B) Catcher/processor. (1) A catcher/processor using trawl gear is active when processing groundfish or when all or part of the trawl net is in the water.

(2) If the catcher/processor identified in paragraph (c)(4)(i)(B) of this section is active, the operator must record for one day per logsheet in the DCPL, the information described in paragraphs (c)(4)(v) and (vi) of this section and submit in eLandings the information described in paragraphs (c)(4)(v), (vii), and (ix) of this section.

(v) Identification information. If active, the operator must record the following information (see paragraphs (c)(4)(v)(A) through (J) of this section):

(A) Date. Enter date of each day (mm/dd/yyyy). This date is also the date of gear deployment.

(B) Page number. Number the pages in each logbook consecutively, beginning on the first page of the DFL or DCPL with page 1 for January 1 and continuing for the remainder of the fishing year.

(C) Printed name and signature of operator. The operator's name must be printed in the DFL or DCPL. The operator must sign each completed logsheet of the DFL or DCPL as verification of acceptance of the responsibility required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. The operator's signature is due by 2400 hours A.l.t. of the day following the week-ending date of the weekly reporting period.

(D) Vessel identification. Name of vessel as displayed in official documentation; FFP number of the vessel; ADF&G vessel registration number if a catcher vessel; and ADF&G processor code if a catcher/processor.

(E) Federal reporting area. Record the Federal reporting area code where gear retrieval was completed, regardless of where the majority of the set took place. Use a separate logsheet for each reporting area.

(F) COBLZ or RKCSA. If gear retrieval occurred in the COBLZ (see Figure 13 to this part) or RKCSA (see Figure 11 to this part) area within a reporting area, use two separate logsheets, the first to record the information from the reporting area that includes COBLZ or RKCSA, and the second to record the information from the reporting area that does not include COBLZ or RKCSA.

(G) Crew size. If a catcher vessel, record the number of crew members (including operator), excluding observer(s), on the last day of a trip. If a catcher/processor, record the number of crew members (including operator), excluding observer(s), on the last day of the weekly reporting period.

(H) Gear type. Use a separate logsheet for each gear type. Indicate whether pelagic trawl or non-pelagic trawl gear was used to harvest the fish.

(I) Management program. Indicate whether harvest occurred under one of the management programs (see paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section). Use a separate logsheet for each management program. If harvest is not under one of the listed management programs, leave blank.

(J) Observer information. Record the number of observers aboard, the name of the observer(s), and the observer cruise number(s).

(vi) Catch-by-haul information. The operator must record the following information (see paragraphs (c)(4)(vi)(A) through (I) of this section) for each haul (see § 679.2). If no catch occurred for a given day, write “no catch.”

(A) Haul number. Number hauls sequentially by year.

(B) Gear deployment (or to set gear). Record the following information (see paragraphs (c)(4)(vi)(B)(1) and (2) of this section) for trawl gear deployment:

(1) The time (in military format, A.l.t.) when the trawl net enters the water, and

(2) The position (latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude) where the trawl net enters the water.

(C) Gear retrieval (or to haul gear). Record the following information (see paragraphs (c)(4)(vi)(C)(1) and (2) of this section) for trawl gear retrieval:

(1) The date (mm/dd) and time (in military format, A.l.t.) when retrieval of trawl gear cable begins.

(2) The position (in latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude) where retrieval of trawl gear cable begins.

(D) Average sea depth and average gear depth. Average sea depth and average gear depth; indicate whether average is reported to the nearest meter or fathom.

(E) Species codes. The operator must record and report required information for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this part), prohibited species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see Table 2c to this part), grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part), squids (see Table 2c to this part), and sculpins (see Table 2c to this part). The operator may record and report information for non-groundfish (see Table 2d to this part).

(F) Target species code. Enter the species code of the species to be harvested. Enter only one target species code.

(G) IR/IU species (see § 679.27). If a catcher/processor, enter species code of IR/IU species and estimated total round weight for each IR/IU species, if applicable; indicate whether estimated weight is to the nearest pound or the nearest 0.001 mt. Use one line to record information for each IR/IU species, including species code and amount of catch. If more than one IR/IU species are to be recorded, the operator must use a separate line for each species.

(H) Total estimated hail weight. (1) If a catcher vessel or catcher/processor using trawl gear and not using NMFS-approved scales, the operator must record the hail weight of each haul; total hail weight is an estimate of the total weight of the entire catch without regard to species. Indicate whether estimated weight is to the nearest pound or to the nearest 0.001 mt.

(2) If a catcher/processor using trawl gear is required to use a NMFS-approved scale, the operator must record the scale weight of each haul without regard to species. Indicate whether weight is to the nearest pound or to the nearest 0.001 mt.

(I) Movement to Avoid Salmon. If a catcher vessel is directed fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea, indicate with a check mark (X) whether, prior to the haul, the operator moved fishing location primarily to avoid Chinook salmon bycatch.

(vii) Product information, catcher/processor. The operator of a catcher/processor using trawl gear must record all product information for all retained groundfish in eLandings (see paragraph (e)(10) of this section).

(viii) Discard or disposition information, catcher vessel. The operator must record in a DFL (see paragraphs (c)(4)(viii)(A) through (E) of this section) the discard or disposition that occurred prior to and during delivery to a buying station, tender vessel, mothership, shoreside processor, or SFP. If no discards or disposition occurred on a given day, write “no discards or disposition.”

(A) Species code and product code. Record the species code and product code for all discards and disposition of groundfish and PSC Pacific herring, Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific halibut, king crabs, and Tanner crabs.

(B) Discard and disposition weight. Record the daily estimated total round weight of groundfish or Pacific herring PSC discards and disposition, balance forward weight from the previous day, and cumulative total weight since last delivery, calculated by adding the daily totals and balance carried forward from the day before; indicate whether estimated weight is to the nearest pound or nearest 0.001 mt.

(C) PSC discard numbers. Record the daily number of PSC discards and disposition, balance forward from the previous day, and cumulative total number since last delivery of PSC animals (Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific halibut, king crabs, and Tanner crabs).

(D) Discard and disposition cumulative total. Summarize cumulative discard and disposition totals of groundfish and PSC animals separately by reporting area, if harvest occurred in the COBLZ or RKCSA, management program, and gear type.

(E) Discard zero balance forward. After the offload or transfer of all fish or fish product onboard and prior to the beginning of each fishing trip, the operator must record the balance forward from the previous day as “zero” and start a new logsheet. At the beginning of each fishing trip, nothing shall be carried forward from the previous fishing trip.

(ix) Discard or disposition information, catcher/processor. The operator of a catcher/processor using trawl gear must record discard or disposition information in eLandings (see paragraph (e)(10) of this section).

(x) Catcher vessel delivery information. The operator must enter the following delivery information (see paragraphs (c)(4)(x)(A) through (C) of this section) for groundfish delivered to a buying station, tender vessel, mothership, shoreside processor, or SFP:

(A) Date (mm/dd) that delivery of harvest was completed,

(B) ADF&G fish ticket number issued to operator by the recipient receiving the delivery, and

(C) Name and ADF&G processor code of recipient.

(5) Shoreside processor DCPL. The shoreside processor DCPL has been replaced by eLandings and is no longer available. (See paragraph (e) of this section.)

(i) Required information, if inactive. See paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(ii) Required information, if active. A shoreside processor or SFP is active when receiving or processing groundfish.

(6) Mothership DCPL—(i) Responsibility. Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(v) of this section, the operator of a mothership that is required to have an FFP under § 679.4(b), or the manager of a CQE floating processor that receives or processes any groundfish from the GOA or BSAI from vessels issued an FFP under § 679.4(b), is required to use a combination of mothership DCPL and eLandings to record and report daily processor identification information, delivery information, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data. The operator or manager must enter into the DCPL any information for groundfish received from catcher vessels, groundfish received from processors for reprocessing or rehandling, and groundfish received from an associated tender vessel.

(ii) Reporting time limits. The operator of a mothership must record in the DCPL or submit via eLandings the information in the following table for each groundfish delivery within the specified time limit:

(iii) Required information, if inactive. See paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(iv) Required information, if active. A mothership is active when receiving or processing groundfish. If the mothership identified in paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this section is active, the operator must record for one day per logsheet in the DCPL, the information described in paragraphs (c)(6)(v) and (vi) of this section and record in eLandings the information described in paragraphs (c)(6)(v), (vii), and (viii) of this section.

(v) Identification information. If active, the operator must record the following information (see paragraphs (c)(6)(v)(A) through (J) of this section) in the DCPL:

(A) Page number. Number the pages in each logbook consecutively, beginning with page 1 for January 1 and continuing throughout the logbook for the remainder of the fishing year.

(B) Printed name and signature of operator. The operator's name must be printed in the DCPL. The operator must sign each completed DCPL logsheet as verification of acceptance of the responsibility required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(C) Vessel information. Name of mothership, or CQE floating processor as displayed in official documentation, FFP or FPP number, and ADF&G processor code.

(D) Date. Enter date (mm/dd/yyyy) of each operating day.

(E) Crew size. Record the number of crew members (including operator), excluding observer(s), on the last day of the weekly reporting period.

(F) Gear type. Indicate the gear type of harvester. If gear type is other than those listed, circle “Other” and describe. Use a separate logsheet for each gear type.

(G) Federal reporting areas. Record Federal reporting area code (see Figures 1 and 3 to this part) where harvest was completed. Use a separate logsheet for each reporting area.

(H) COBLZ or RKCSA. If groundfish was harvested with trawl gear in the COBLZ or RKCSA, use two separate logsheets to record the information: one logsheet for the reporting area that includes COBLZ or RKCSA, and a second logsheet to record the information from the reporting area that does not include COBLZ or RKCSA.

(I) Observer information. Record the number of observers aboard, the name(s) of the observer(s), and the observer cruise number(s).

(J) Management program. Indicate whether harvest occurred under one of the management programs (see paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section). Use a separate logsheet for each management program. If harvest is not under one of the listed management programs, leave blank.

(1) For the PCTC Program, enter the observer's haul number for each catcher vessel delivery of an unsorted codend by 2400 hours, A.l.t., each day to record the previous day's delivery information.

(2) [Reserved]

(vi) Delivery information. The operator must record delivery information (see paragraphs (c)(6)(vi)(A) through (H) of this section) when unprocessed groundfish deliveries are received by the mothership from a tender vessel or a catcher vessel. If no deliveries are received for a given day, write “no deliveries.”

(A) Type of delivery. Enter “CV” or “TV” to indicate if delivery was from a catcher vessel or tender vessel, respectively.

(B) Non-submittal of discard report. Indicate whether the blue logsheet was received from the catcher vessel at the time of catch delivery. If the delivery was from a tender vessel, leave this column blank. If the blue logsheet is not received from the catcher vessel, enter “NO” and one of the response codes in the following table to describe the reason for non-submittal.

(C) Vessel identification. Name and ADF&G vessel registration number of the catcher vessel or tender vessel (if applicable) delivering the groundfish.

(D) Receipt time. Record time (in military format, A.l.t.) when receipt of groundfish delivery was completed.

(E) Beginning position of receipt. Record the position coordinates (in latitude and longitude to the nearest minute; indicate E or W for longitude) where receipt of the groundfish delivery began.

(F) Estimated total groundfish hail weight. Enter the estimated total hail weight of the combined species of each delivery from a catcher vessel or tender vessel. Total estimated hail weight is an estimate of the total weight of the entire catch without regard to species. Indicate whether the estimated weight is to the nearest pound or to the nearest 0.001 mt. If a catcher vessel reported discards on a blue DFL but did not deliver groundfish, enter “0” in this column.

(G) IR/IU species (see § 679.27). Enter the species code of IR/IU species and the estimated total round weight for each IR/IU species, if applicable; indicate whether estimated weight is to the nearest pound or the nearest 0.001 mt. Use one line to record information for each IR/IU species, including species code and amount of catch. If more than one IR/IU species are to be recorded, the operator must use a separate line for each species.

(H) ADF&G fish ticket numbers. If receiving unprocessed groundfish from a catcher vessel, record the ADF&G fish ticket number that the mothership issued to each catcher vessel. If receiving unprocessed groundfish from an associated tender vessel, record the ADF&G fish ticket numbers issued by the tender vessel on behalf of the mothership to the catcher vessel.

(vii) Product information. The operator of a mothership must record all groundfish product information in eLandings (see paragraph (e)(10) of this section), including products made from unprocessed groundfish deliveries received from a tender vessel or a catcher vessel; groundfish received from another processor or other source; and groundfish received for custom processing (see paragraph (a)(7) of this section) by the mothership for another processor or business entity.

(viii) Discard or disposition information. The operator of a mothership must record discard and disposition information in eLandings (see paragraph (e)(10) of this section). The discard or disposition information must include:

(A) Discards and disposition that occurred onboard after receipt of groundfish from a catcher vessel or tender vessel;

(B) Discards and disposition that occurred prior to, during, and after processing of groundfish;

(C) Discards and disposition that were reported on a blue DFL received from a catcher vessel delivering groundfish;

(D) Discards and disposition that are recorded on a blue DFL received from a catcher vessel even though no groundfish are delivered; and

(d) [Reserved]

(e) Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS) and eLandings—(1) Responsibility—(i) Hardware, software, and Internet connectivity. A User must obtain at his or her own expense hardware, software, and Internet connectivity to support Internet submissions of commercial fishery landings for which participants report to NMFS: landing data, production data, and discard or disposition data. The User must enter this information via the Internet by logging on to the eLandings system at http://elandings.alaska.gov or other NMFS-approved software or by using the desktop client software.

(ii) Reporting of non-IFQ groundfish. If the User is unable to submit commercial fishery landings of non-IFQ groundfish due to hardware, software, or Internet failure for a period longer than the required reporting time, contact NMFS Inseason Management at 907-586-7228 for instructions. When the hardware, software, or Internet is restored, the User must enter this same information into eLandings or other NMFS-approved software.

(iii) IFQ manual landing report. If the User is unable to submit commercial fishery landings of IFQ crab, IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish due to hardware, software, or Internet failure for a period longer than the required reporting time, or a change must be made to information already submitted, the User must complete an IFQ manual landing report. Manual landing instructions must be obtained from OLE, Juneau, AK, at 800-304-4846 (Select Option 1).

(A) The User must complete all questions on the manual report, even if only one item has changed. The following additional information is required: whether the report is original or revised, name, telephone number, and fax number of individual submitting the manual landing report.

(B) The User must fax the IFQ manual landing report to 907-586-7313.

(C) The User must retain the paper copies of IFQ manual landing reports as indicated at paragraph (a)(5) of this section and make them available upon request of NMFS observers and authorized officers as indicated at paragraph (a)(6) of this section.

(2) eLandings processor registration. (i) Before a User can use the eLandings system to report landings, production, discard or disposition data, he or she must request authorization to use the system, reserve a unique UserID, and obtain a password by using the Internet to complete the eLandings processor registration at https://elandings.alaska.gov/elandings/Register.

(ii) Upon registration acceptance, the User must print, sign, and mail the User Agreement Form to NMFS at the address or fax number shown on the form. Confirmation will be e-mailed to indicate that the User is registered, authorized to use eLandings, and that the UserID and User's account are enabled.

(iii) The User's signature on the registration form means that the User agrees to the following terms (see paragraphs (e)(2)(iii)(A) through (C) of this section):

(A) To use eLandings access privileges only for submitting legitimate fishery landing reports;

(B) To safeguard the UserID and password to prevent their use by unauthorized persons; and

(C) To ensure that the User is authorized to submit landing reports for the processor permit number(s) listed.

(3) Information required for eLandings processor registration form. The User must enter the following information (see paragraphs (e)(3)(i) through (ix) of this section) to obtain operation registration and UserID registration:

(i) Operation type. Select the operation type from the dropdown list.

(ii) Operation name. Enter a name that will refer to the specific operation. For example, if the plant is in Kodiak and the company is East Pacific Seafoods, the operation name might read “East Pacific Seafoods-Kodiak.”

(iii) ADF&G processor code. Enter ADF&G processor code.

(iv) Federal permit number. Enter all the federal permits associated with the operation.

(A) Groundfish shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor. If a groundfish shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor, enter the FPP number.

(B) Groundfish catcher/processor or mothership. If a groundfish catcher/processor or mothership, enter the FFP number.

(C) Registered Buyer. If a Registered Buyer, enter the Registered Buyer permit number.

(D) Registered Crab Receiver. If a Registered Crab Receiver, enter the Registered Crab Receiver permit number.

(v) Port code. Enter the home port code (see Tables 14a, 14b, and 14c to this part) for the operation.

(vi) ADF&G vessel registration number. If a mothership, catcher/processor, or tender operation, the operator must enter the ADF&G vessel identification number of the vessel.

(vii) Vehicle license number. If a buying station operation that is a vehicle, enter vehicle license number and the state of license issuance.

(viii) Physical operation. If a buying station, tender vessel, or custom processor, enter the following information to identify the associated processor where the processing will take place: operation type, ADF&G processor code, and applicable FFP number, FPP number, Registered Buyer permit number, and Registered Crab Receiver permit number.

(ix) UserID registration for primary User. Each operation requires a primary User. Enter the following information for the primary User for the new operation: create and enter a UserID, initial password, company name, User name (name of the person who will use the UserID), city and state where the operation is located, business telephone number, business fax number, business e-mail address, security question, and security answer.

(4) Information entered automatically for eLandings landing report. eLandings autofills the following fields from processor registration records (see paragraph (e)(2) of this section): UserID, processor company name, business telephone number, e-mail address, port of landing, operation type (for catcher/processors, motherships, or SFPs), ADF&G processor code, and Federal permit number. The User must review the autofilled cells to ensure that they are accurate for the landing that is taking place. eLandings assigns a unique landing report number and an ADF&G electronic fish ticket number upon completion of data entry.

(5) Shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor landing report. The manager of a shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor that receives groundfish from a catcher vessel issued an FFP under § 679.4 and that is required to have an FPP under § 679.4(f) must use eLandings or other NMFS-approved software to submit a daily landing report during the fishing year to report processor identification information and the following information under paragraphs (e)(5)(i) through (iii) of this section:

(i) Information entered for each groundfish delivery to a shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor. The User for a shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor must enter the following information (see paragraphs (e)(5)(i)(A) through (C) of this section) for each groundfish delivery (other than IFQ sablefish) provided by the operator of a catcher vessel, the operator or manager of an associated buying station or tender vessel, and from processors for reprocessing or rehandling product into eLandings or other NMFS-approved software:

(A) Delivery information. (1) Number of observers onboard.

(2) For crew size, enter the number of licensed crew aboard the vessel, including the operator.

(3) Management program name and identifying number, if any, in which harvest occurred (see paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section).

(4) ADF&G groundfish statistical area of harvest.

(5) For date of landing, enter date (mm/dd/yyyy) that the delivery was completed.

(6) Indicate (YES or NO) whether delivery is from a buying station or tender vessel.

(7) If the delivery is received from a buying station, indicate the name of the buying station. If the delivery is received from a tender vessel, enter the ADF&G vessel registration number.

(8) If delivery is received from a catcher vessel, indicate the ADF&G vessel registration number of the vessel.

(9) Indicate whether the blue logsheet was received from the catcher vessel at the time of catch delivery. If the blue logsheet is not received from the catcher vessel, enter “NO” and select the applicable code from the following table to explain the reason provided by the catcher vessel for not supplying this copy:

(10) Gear type of harvester.

(11) ADF&G fish ticket number provided to catcher vessel (eLandings assigns an ADF&G fish ticket number to the landing report).

(12) If receiving deliveries of groundfish in the marine municipal boundaries of a CQE community listed in Table 21 to this part.

(B) Landed scale weight. The User for a shoreside processor or SFP must record landed scale weight (to the nearest pound) for all retained species from groundfish deliveries by species code and delivery condition code. Obtain actual weights for each groundfish species received and retained by:

(1) Sorting according to species codes and direct weighing of that species, or

(2) Weighing the entire delivery and then sorting and weighing the groundfish species individually to determine their weights.

(C) Discard or disposition information. The User must record:

(1) Discard or disposition of fish: that occurred on and was reported by a catcher vessel; that occurred on and was reported by a buying station or tender vessel; and that occurred prior to, during, and/or after production of groundfish at the shoreside processor or SFP. Discards and dispositions also must be recorded when no groundfish are delivered but the blue DFL is submitted by a catcher vessel containing records of discards or disposition.

(2) If groundfish or PSC herring, enter species code, delivery condition code, disposition code, and weight (to the nearest pound), and

(3) If PSC halibut, salmon, or crab, enter species code, delivery condition code, disposition code, and count (in numbers of animals).

(ii) Submittal time limit. The User for a shoreside processor or SFP must submit a landing report containing the information described in paragraph (e)(5)(i) of this section for each groundfish delivery from a specific vessel by 1200 hours, A.l.t., of the day following completion of the delivery. If the landed scale weight required in paragraph (e)(5)(i)(C) of this section is not available by this deadline, the User must transmit an estimated weight for each species by 1200 hours, A.l.t., of the day following completion of the delivery, and must submit a revised landing report with the landed scale weight for each species by 1200 hours, A.l.t., of the third day following completion of the delivery.

(iii) Compliance. By using eLandings, the User for the shoreside processor or SFP and the operator for the catcher vessel or tender vessel or manager of the buying station providing information to the User for the shoreside processor or SFP accept the responsibility of and acknowledge compliance with § 679.7(a)(10).

(6) Mothership landing report. The operator of a mothership that is issued an FFP under § 679.4(b) that receives groundfish from a catcher vessel required to have an FFP under § 679.4 is required to use eLandings or other NMFS-approved software to submit a daily landing report during the fishing year to report processor identification information and the following information under paragraphs (e)(6)(i) through (iii) of this section:

(i) Information entered for each groundfish delivery to a mothership. The User for a mothership must enter the following information (see paragraphs (e)(6)(i)(A)(1) through (12) of this section) provided by the operator of a catcher vessel, operator or manager of an associated tender vessel, or information received from processors for reprocessing or rehandling product.

(A) Delivery information. (1) Number of observers onboard.

(2) Crew size (including operator).

(3) Management program name and identifying number, if any, in which harvest occurred (see paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section).

(4) ADF&G groundfish statistical area of harvest.

(5) Date (mm/dd/yyyy) that delivery was completed.

(6) If the delivery is received from a tender, enter the ADF&G vessel registration number of the tender.

(7) If delivery received from a catcher vessel, enter the ADF&G vessel registration number of the vessel.

(8) Indicate whether the blue logsheet was received from the catcher vessel at the time of catch delivery. If the blue logsheet was not received from the catcher vessel, enter “NO” and select a code from the following table to explain the reason provided by the catcher vessel for not supplying this copy.

(9) Gear type of harvester.

(10) Total estimated round weight by species (pounds).

(11) ADF&G fish ticket number provided to catcher vessel (eLandings assigns an ADF&G fish ticket number to the landing report).

(12) For deliveries from catcher vessels directed fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea, indicate whether, prior to the haul, the operator of the catcher vessel moved fishing location primarily to avoid Chinook salmon bycatch.

(B) Discard or disposition information. (1) The User must record discard or disposition information that occurred on and was reported by a catcher vessel; that occurred on and was reported by a tender vessel; and that occurred prior to, during, and after production of groundfish at the mothership. Discards and dispositions also must be recorded when no groundfish are delivered but the blue DFL is submitted by a catcher vessel containing records of discards or disposition.

(2) If groundfish or PSC herring, enter species code, delivery condition code, disposition code, and weight (to the nearest pound), and

(3) If PSC halibut, salmon, or crab, enter species code, delivery condition code, disposition code, and count (in numbers of animals).

(ii) Submittal time limit. The User for a mothership must submit a landing report containing the information described at paragraph (e)(6)(i) of this section for each groundfish delivery from a specific vessel by 2400 hours, A.l.t., of the day following the delivery.

(iii) Compliance. By using eLandings, the User for the mothership and the catcher vessel operator or tender vessel operator providing information to the User for the mothership accept the responsibility of and acknowledge compliance with § 679.7(a)(10).

(7) Registered Buyer landing report. A person who is issued a Registered Buyer permit under § 679.4(d)(3) and who receives IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish from an IFQ permit holder or who receives CDQ halibut from a CDQ permit holder at any time during the fishing year is required to use eLandings or other NMFS-approved software to submit landing reports with the following information from paragraphs (e)(7)(i) and (ii) of this section):

(i) Information entered for each IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish delivery. The User for a Registered Buyer must enter the following information (see paragraphs (e)(7)(i)(A) through (E) of this section) for each IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish delivery into eLandings or other NMFS-approved software:

(A) User identification. UserID and password of person assigned for that system.

(B) Landing date. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) of the landing.

(C) Landing location. Location (port code) of the landing (See Tables 14a, 14b, and 14c to this part).

(D) Permit numbers. Permit number of the IFQ permit holder, and any IFQ hired master permit holder, or CDQ hired master permit holder harvesting the fish and permit number of Registered Buyer receiving the IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut.

(E) Delivery information. As reported by the IFQ permit holder, IFQ hired master permit holder, or CDQ hired master permit holder including the information in paragraphs (e)(7)(i)(E)(1) through (9) of this section):

(1) Harvesting vessel's ADF&G vessel registration number.

(2) Gear code of gear used to harvest IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut.

(3) ADF&G fish ticket number(s) for the landing (after the initial eLandings report is submitted, eLandings assigns an ADF&G fish ticket number to the landing report).

(4) ADF&G statistical area of harvest.

(5) If ADF&G statistical area is bisected by a line dividing two IFQ regulatory areas, provide the IFQ regulatory area of harvest.

(6) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(7)(i)(E)(7) of this section, initial accurate scale weight(s) (to the nearest pound) made at the time of offloading for IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut sold and retained (where retained includes fish intended for personal use, fish weighed and reloaded for delivery to another processor, and fish landed but rejected at the dock by the Registered Buyer); species codes; delivery condition code; and disposition code for each ADF&G statistical area of harvest.

(7) Accurate weight of IFQ sablefish processed product obtained before the offload may be substituted for the initial accurate scale weight provided in paragraph (e)(7)(i)(E)(6) of this section, at time of offload, if the vessel operator is a Registered Buyer reporting an IFQ sablefish landing.

(8) Indicate whether initial accurate scale weight is given with or without ice and slime. Fish which have been washed prior to weighing or which have been offloaded from refrigerated salt water are not eligible for a 2-percent deduction for ice and slime and must be reported as fish weights without ice and slime. The 2-percent deduction is made by NMFS, not the submitter.

(9) Indicate whether IFQ halibut is incidental catch concurrent with legal landing of salmon or concurrent with legal landing of lingcod harvested using dinglebar gear.

(ii) Signatures for IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish deliveries. (A) The User for the Registered Buyer must print the completed groundfish landing report (ADF&G electronic groundfish ticket) and the sablefish/halibut IFQ landing receipt. The User must review the autofilled data entry cells to ensure that they are accurate for the landing that is taking place.

(B) The User for the Registered Buyer, plus the IFQ permit holder or the IFQ hired master permit holder or CDQ hired master permit holder, must acknowledge the accuracy of the printed IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish landing receipt, and if necessary, IFQ manual landing report, by entering printed name, signature, and date.

(iii) Time limits—(A) Landing hours. A landing of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish may commence only between 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 1800 hours, A.l.t., unless permission to land at a different time is granted in advance by a clearing officer.

(B) Landing receipt signatures. The User for the Registered Buyer and the IFQ permit holder, IFQ hired master permit holder, or CDQ hired master permit holder must sign the sablefish/halibut IFQ landing receipt within six hours after all IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish are offloaded from a harvesting vessel and prior to shipment or transfer of the fish from the landing site.

(C) Landing completion. The User for the Registered Buyer must submit an IFQ landing report, containing the information described in this paragraph (e)(7), within six hours after all IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish are offloaded from a specific vessel and prior to shipment or transfer of said fish from the landing site.

(iv) IFQ manual landing report. See paragraph (e)(1)(iii) of this section.

(8) Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) IFQ crab landing report. (i) A person who is issued an RCR permit under § 680.4(i) of this chapter and who receives IFQ crab from a crab IFQ permit holder or crab IFQ hired master is required to use eLandings to submit a landing report to report every landing of IFQ crab and incidental groundfish.

(ii) An RCR using a catcher/processor is required to submit a crab landing report using eLandings in a format approved by NMFS. NMFS will provide format specifications upon request. Interested parties may contact NMFS Alaska Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Catch Accounting/Data Quality, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, telephone 907-586-7228.

(iii) Information entered for each IFQ crab delivery. The User for the RCR must submit information described at paragraphs (e)(8)(iii)(A) through (D) of this section into eLandings or other NMFS-approved software for each IFQ crab delivery:

(A) Permit numbers. RCR permit number, IFQ permit number, and IPQ permit number, as appropriate.

(B) Operation type and port code—(1) If a shoreside processor, the port code is pre-filled automatically (see § 679.5(e)(4)).

(2) If a catcher/processor, the at-sea operation type is pre-filled automatically.

(3) If an SFP and crab delivery is received in port, the at-sea operation type is pre-filled automatically (see § 679.5(e)(4)) and the User must enter the port code from Table 14a to this part.

(4) If an SFP and crab delivery is received at sea, the at-sea operation type is pre-filled automatically (see § 679.5(e)(4)) and the User must enter the appropriate crab regional designation (see § 680.40(b)(2)), shown below:

(C) Delivery information. As reported by IFQ permit holder.

(1) ADF&G vessel registration number of the delivering vessel.

(2) Date (mm/dd/yyyy) fishing began.

(3) Date (mm/dd/yyyy) of the IFQ crab landing.

(4) ADF&G fish ticket number (automatically supplied).

(5) ADF&G statistical area of harvest (All ADF&G statistical areas are translated to the NMFS reporting area and the IPHC reporting area by eLandings.).

(6) Species code of catch from Table 2 to part 680.

(7) Delivery-condition codes of catch from Table 3a to this part.

(8) Number of crab retained and sold condition code, product type, size/grade, and sold pounds; and optionally, price per pound.

(9) Scale weight of deadloss (to the nearest pound) and scale weight of crab retained for personal use (to the nearest pound). Deadloss and personal use crab that an IPQ holder did not purchase are not debited from the IPQ holder's account.

(D) Crew and observer information—(1) For crew size, enter the number of licensed crew aboard the vessel, including the operator.

(2) Number of observers aboard.

(iv) Information entered for IFQ crab custom processing landings. In addition to the information required in paragraph (e)(8)(iii) of this section, if custom processing IFQ crab, the User for the RCR must enter the ADF&G processor code of the person for which the IFQ crab was custom processed.

(v) Signatures for IFQ crab deliveries. (A) The User for the RCR must print the completed crab landing report (ADF&G electronic crab ticket) and the crab IFQ landing receipt. The User must review the autofilled data entry cells to ensure that they are accurate for the landing that is taking place.

(B) The User for the Registered Crab Receiver (RCR), plus the IFQ permit holder or IFQ hired master permit holder, must acknowledge the accuracy of the printed IFQ crab landing receipt, and, if necessary, IFQ manual landing report, by entering printed name, signature, and date.

(vi) Time limits. (A) Except as indicated in paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section, the User for the RCR is required to submit a crab landing report described at this paragraph (e)(8) to NMFS within six hours after all crab is offloaded from the vessel.

(B) For IFQ crab harvested on a catcher/processor, the User for the RCR is required to submit an IFQ crab landing report to NMFS by Tuesday 1200 hours, A.l.t. after the end of each weekly reporting period in which IFQ crab was harvested.

(C) The User for the RCR and the IFQ permit holder or IFQ hired master permit holder must enter printed name and sign the crab IFQ landing receipt within six hours after all crab is offloaded from the harvesting vessel.

(vii) Landing document retention. The User must retain each landing report and landing receipt per paragraph (a)(5) of this section.

(viii) IFQ manual landing report for crab. See paragraph (e)(1)(iii) of this section.

(9) Shoreside processor or SFP information entered for production report. The manager of a shoreside processor or SFP that is required to have an FPP under § 679.4(f) must use eLandings or other NMFS-approved software during the fishing year to submit a production report to report daily processor identification information and all groundfish production data. The User must retain a copy of each production report per paragraphs (a)(5) and (6) of this section.

(i) Contents. eLandings autofills the following fields when creating a production report for a shoreside processor or SFP: FPP number, company name, ADF&G processor code, User name, email address, and telephone number. The User must review the autofilled cells to ensure that they are accurate for the current report. In addition, the User for the shoreside processor or SFP must enter the following information (see paragraphs (e)(9)(i)(A) through (F) of this section):

(A) Date. Reporting date (mm/dd/yyyy).

(B) Observers. Number of observers onsite.

(C) Area of harvest. Whether harvested in GOA or BSAI.

(D) Product description. Species code, product type, and product code of product.

(E) Product weight. Enter actual scale weight of product to the nearest pound.

(F) No production/no deliveries (inactive). If there was no production or deliveries for the day, mark the “No Production” and/or “No Deliveries” boxes.

(ii) Submittal time limits—(A) When active pursuant to paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section, the User for a shoreside processor or SFP must submit a production report by 1200 hours, A.l.t., each day to record the previous day's production information.

(B) If a shoreside processor or SFP using eLandings is not taking deliveries over a weekend, the User or manager may submit the eLandings production report from Saturday and Sunday to NMFS by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the following Monday.

(10) Catcher/processor or mothership information entered for production report—(i) Catcher/processor. The operator of a catcher/processor that is issued an FFP under § 679.4 and that harvests groundfish is required to use eLandings or other NMFS-approved software to submit a production report to record and report daily processor identification information, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data.

(ii) Mothership. The operator of a mothership that is issued an FFP under § 679.4, or the operator of a CQE floating processor that receives groundfish is required to use eLandings or other NMFS-approved software to submit a production report to record and report daily processor identification information, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data.

(iii) Contents. eLandings autofills the following fields when creating a production report for a catcher/processor or mothership: FFP or FPP number, company name, ADF&G processor code, User name, email address, and telephone number. The User must review the autofilled cells to ensure that they are accurate for the current report. In addition, the User for the catcher/processor or mothership must enter the information in paragraphs (e)(10)(iii)(A) through (N) of this section.

(A) Date. Reporting date (mm/dd/yyyy).

(B) Designation. From Table 14c to this part, enter whether the processor is a catcher/processor = FCP or a mothership = FLD.

(C) Crew size. Including operator.

(D) Management program. Enter management program and identifying number, if any, in which harvest occurred (see paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section).

(E) Gear type of harvester. Enter the gear type used by the harvester.

(F) Federal Reporting Area of harvest. Enter the Federal Reporting Area where harvest was made.

(G) COBLZ or RKCSA. Indicate whether fishing occurred in COBLZ or RKCSA (if applicable).

(H) Product description. Species code, product type, and product code of product.

(I) Product weight. Enter product weight in metric tons to the nearest 0.001 mt.

(J) No production (inactive). If there was no production for the day, mark the “No Production” box.

(K) Discard description. The operator must record the discard or disposition that occurred prior to, during, and after production of groundfish by species code and disposition code of discards and disposition.

(L) Discard weight. Daily weight of groundfish and the daily weight of herring PSC to the nearest 0.001 mt.

(M) PSC numbers—(1) Non-AFA catcher/processors and all motherships. Daily number of PSC animals (Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific halibut, king crabs, and Tanner crabs) by species codes and discard and disposition codes.

(2) AFA and CDQ catcher/processors. The operator of an AFA catcher/processor or any catcher/processor harvesting pollock CDQ must enter daily the number of non-salmon PSC animals (Pacific halibut, king crabs, and Tanner crabs) by species codes and discard and disposition codes. Salmon PSC animals are entered into the electronic logbook as described in paragraphs (f)(1)(iv) and (v) of this section.

(N) ADF&G statistical area. Must be reported beginning January 1, 2009.

(iv) Submittal time limits—(A) Except as described in paragraph (e)(10)(iv)(B) of this section, when a mothership is active pursuant to paragraph (c)(6)(iv) of this section, a catcher/processor longline or pot gear is active pursuant to paragraph (c)(3)(iv)(B) of this section, or a catcher/processor trawl gear is active pursuant to paragraph (c)(4)(iv)(B) of this section, the User for a mothership or catcher/processor must submit a production report by 2400 hours, A.l.t., each day to record the previous day's production information.

(B) If a vessel is in the groundfish and halibut fishery full observer coverage category described at § 679.51(a)(2), the User may submit a production report for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday no later than 2400 hours, A.l.t., on the following Monday.

(11) Printing of landing reports, landing receipts, and production reports—(i) The User daily must print a paper copy onsite or onboard of:

(A) Each landing report.

(B) If IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut, each sablefish/halibut IFQ landing receipt.

(C) If IFQ crab, each crab IFQ landing receipt.

(D) Each production report.

(ii) In addition to paragraph (e)(11)(i) of this section, the mothership operator or User must print an additional copy of each landing report and provide it to the operator of the catcher vessel delivering groundfish to the mothership by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on Tuesday following the end of applicable weekly reporting period.

(12) Retention and inspection of landing reports, landing receipts, and production reports—(i) The User daily must retain a printed paper copy onsite or onboard of:

(A) Each landing report.

(B) If IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut, each sablefish/halibut IFQ landing receipt.

(C) If IFQ crab, each crab IFQ landing receipt.

(D) Each production report.

(ii) The User must make available the printed copies upon request of NMFS observers and authorized officers as indicated at paragraph (a)(5) of this section.

(13) Catcher/processor landing report. (i) The operator of a catcher/processor placed in the partial observer coverage category under § 679.51(a)(3) must use eLandings or other NMFS-approved software to submit a catcher/processor landing report to NMFS for each fishing trip conducted while that catcher/processor is in the partial observer coverage category.

(ii) The vessel operator must log into eLandings or other NMFS-approved software and provide the information required on the computer screen. Additional instructions for submitting a catcher/processor landing report is on the Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

(iii) For purposes of this landing report requirement, the end of a fishing trip is defined in § 679.2, paragraph (3)(iii) of the definition of a fishing trip.

(iv) The vessel operator must submit the catcher/processor landing report to NMFS by 2400 hours, A.l.t., on the day after the end of the fishing trip.

(14) Tender vessel landing report (“tLandings”)—(i) tLandings. tLandings is an applications software for preparing electronic landing reports for commercial fishery landings to tender vessels.

(ii) Tender vessel operator responsibility. The operator of a tender vessel taking delivery of groundfish that is required to be reported to NMFS on a landing report under paragraph (e)(5) of this section must use tLandings to enter information about each landing of groundfish and must provide that information to the User defined under § 679.2.

(iii) User responsibility. The User must configure and provide the tender vessel operator with the most recent version of the tLandings tender workstation application prior to the tender vessel taking delivery of groundfish.

(iv) Information entered for each groundfish delivery. The tender vessel operator must log into the configured tLandings tender workstation application and provide the information required on the computer screen. Additional instructions for tLandings is on the Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

(v) Submittal time limit. (A) The tender vessel operator must provide the landing information in tLandings to the User at the commencement of the transfer or offload of groundfish from the tender vessel to the processor.

(B) The User must upload the data recorded in tLandings by the tender vessel to prepare the initial landing report for a catcher vessel delivering to a tender vessel that is required under paragraph (e)(5) of this section within the submittal time limit specified under paragraph (e)(5).

(vi) Compliance. By using tLandings, the User and the tender vessel operator providing information to the User accept the responsibility of and acknowledge compliance with § 679.7(a)(10).

(f) Electronic logbooks (ELBs). The operator may use a combination of a NMFS-approved ELB (instead of a DFL or DCPL) and eLandings to record and report groundfish information. To satisfy ELB use requirements, the operator after data entry must routinely create the following three products: an ELB logsheet, an ELB discard report, and an ELB data export.

(1) Responsibility. The operator of a vessel voluntarily using an ELB must notify the Regional Administrator by fax at 907-586-7465 to notify NMFS that the operator is using a NMFS-approved ELB instead of a DFL or DCPL, prior to participating in any Federal fishery.

(i) Catcher vessel longline and pot gear ELB. The operator of a catcher vessel using longline and pot gear may use a NMFS-approved catcher vessel longline or pot gear ELB in lieu of using the NMFS-prescribed catcher vessel longline or pot gear DFL required at paragraph (c)(3) of this section.

(ii) Catcher/processor longline and pot gear ELB. Except for catcher/processors subject to § 679.100(b), the operator of a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear may use a combination of a NMFS-approved catcher/processor longline and pot gear ELB and eLandings to record and report groundfish information. The operator may use a NMFS-approved catcher/processor longline and pot gear ELB to record daily processor identification information and catch-by-set information. In eLandings, the operator must record daily processor identification, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data.

(iii) Catcher vessel trawl gear ELB. The operator of a catcher vessel using trawl gear may use a NMFS-approved catcher vessel trawl gear ELB in lieu of using the NMFS-prescribed catcher vessel trawl gear DFL required at paragraph (c)(4) of this section.

(iv) Catcher/processor trawl gear ELB. Except as described in paragraph (f)(1)(vii) of this section, the operator of a catcher/processor using trawl gear may use a combination of a NMFS-approved catcher/processor trawl gear ELB and eLandings to record and report groundfish information. In the ELB, the operator may enter processor identification information and catch-by-haul information. In eLandings, the operator must enter processor identification, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data.

(v) Mothership ELB. The operator of a mothership may use a combination of a NMFS-approved mothership ELB and eLandings to record and report groundfish information. The operator may use a NMFS-approved mothership ELB to record daily processor identification information and catcher vessel and tender vessel groundfish delivery information. In eLandings, the operator must record daily processor identification, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data.

(vi) If using a NMFS-approved ELB, the operator is not required to quarterly submit logsheets to OLE.

(vii) AFA and CDQ trawl catcher/processors. The operator of an AFA catcher/processor or any catcher/processor harvesting pollock CDQ must use a combination of NMFS-approved catcher/processor trawl gear ELB and eLandings to record and report groundfish and PSC information. In the ELB, the operator must enter processor identification information; catch-by-haul information; prohibited species discard or disposition data for all salmon species in each haul; and indicate whether, prior to the haul, the operator moved fishing location primarily to avoid Chinook salmon bycatch. In eLandings, the operator must enter processor identification, groundfish production data, and groundfish and prohibited species discard or disposition data for all prohibited species except salmon.

(viii) Longline catcher/processor subsector. The operator of a catcher/processor subject to § 679.100(b) must use a NMFS-approved catcher/processor longline and pot gear ELB to record processor identification information, catch-by-set information, and, if required to weigh Pacific cod on a NMFS-approved scale, the total Pacific cod weight from the scale for each set. This requirement applies for the entire year that the vessel is subject to § 679.100(b) and operating as a catcher/processor using either longline or pot gear.

(ix) Catcher/processors and motherships required to weigh catch on NMFS-approved scales. Catcher/processors and motherships required to weigh catch on a NMFS-approved scale must use a NMFS-approved ELB. The vessel operator must ensure that each scale is tested as specified in § 679.28(b)(3) and that the following information from all scale tests, including failed tests, is reported within 24 hours of the testing using the ELB:

(A) The weight of test material from the observer platform scale;

(B) The total weight of the test material as recorded by the scale being tested;

(C) Percent error as determined by subtracting the known weight of the test material from the weight recorded on the scale being tested, dividing that amount by the known weight of the test material, and multiplying by 100; and

(D) The time, to the nearest minute A.l.t. when testing began.

(2) Requirements for using an ELB—(i) Use a NMFS-approved ELB. The operator must use only a NMFS-approved ELB. The Regional Administrator maintains a list of approved ELBs on the Alaska Region NMFS website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov (see also § 679.28(h) for approval of vendor software).

(ii) Reporting groundfish by ELB. If the User is unable to submit commercial fishery information due to hardware, software, or Internet failure for a period longer than the required reporting time, contact NMFS Inseason Management at (907) 586-7228 for instructions. When the hardware, software, or Internet is restored, the User must enter this same information into the electronic logbook (ELB) or other NMFS-approved software.

(iii) Enter all required information into the ELB—(A) Inactive. The operator must enter all required information, if inactive (see paragraph (c)(2) of this section).

(B) Active. The operator must enter all required information, if active (see paragraph (c)(3), (c)(4), or (c)(6) of this section, as appropriate).

(1) Recording time limits. The time limits for recording applicable information in the ELBs are the same as the recording time limits for DFLs and DCPLs in paragraphs (c)(3), (c)(4), and (c)(6) of this section.

(2) Daily complete ELB data entry and printing of copies as indicated in paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section.

(iv) Regularly backup ELB data. The operator must regularly backup ELB data to ensure that data are not lost in the event of hardware or software problems.

(v) Correct errors in ELB data. If after an ELB discard report and ELB logsheet are printed, an error is found in the data, the operator must make any necessary changes to the data, print a new copy of the ELB discard report and ELB logsheet, and export the revised file to NMFS. The operator must retain both the original and revised ELB reports.

(3) Printed copies. Upon completion of ELB data entry each day, the operator must print the following information (see paragraphs (f)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section) in the NMFS-specified format:

(i) ELB logsheet. (A) Print a copy of an ELB logsheet when a vessel is active, by 2400 hours, A.l.t. each day to record the previous day's ELB information.

(B) Print one ELB logsheet to describe a continuous period of inactivity, when a vessel is inactive.

(C) Print a copy of the ELB logsheet for the observer's use, if an observer is onboard the vessel, by 2400 hours, A.l.t., each day to record the previous day's ELB information.

(ii) ELB discard report. (A) Print a copy of an ELB discard report upon completion of each fishing trip or each offload of fish.

(B) If an observer is present, print a copy of the ELB discard report for the observer's use upon completion of each fishing trip or each offload of fish.

(4) Signatures—(i) ELB logsheet. The operator daily must sign and date each printed ELB logsheet by 2400 hours, A.l.t. each day to record the previous day's ELB information. The signature of the operator is verification of acceptance of the responsibility required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(ii) ELB discard report. The operator daily must sign and date each printed ELB discard report upon completion of each fishing trip or each offload of fish. The signature of the operator is verification of acceptance of the responsibility required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(5) Submittal time limits. (i) The operator of a catcher vessel using an ELB must upon delivery of catch submit the ELB discard report to the mothership, shoreside processor, or SFP.

(ii) The operator or manager of a buying station or tender vessel that receives groundfish catch from a catcher vessel using an ELB must upon delivery of catch submit the ELB discard report to the mothership, shoreside processor, or SFP, and submit the ELB data export directly to the Regional Administrator or through the mothership, shoreside processor, or SFP.

(6) Retention. The operator must keep a signed copy of each ELB logsheet and each ELB discard report, filed in sequence for immediate access by authorized personnel as described at paragraph (a)(5) of this section.

(7) ELB data submission—(i) Catcher/processors. The operator of a catcher/processor must transmit ELB data directly to NMFS online through eLandings or other NMFS-approved data transmission mechanism, by 2400 hours, A.l.t., each day to record the previous day's hauls.

(ii) Catcher vessels. The operator of a catcher vessel must transmit ELB data directly to NMFS as an email attachment or to NMFS through a shoreside processor, SFP, or mothership who received his/her groundfish catch. Through a prior agreement with the catcher vessel, the operator of a mothership or the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP will forward the ELB data transfer to NMFS as an email attachment within 24 hours of completing receipt of the catcher vessel's catch.

(8) Return receipt. (i) Upon receiving an ELB data export, NMFS will generate a dated return-receipt to confirm receipt of the ELB data. If errors exist in the data transmitted to NMFS, the receipt will identify the errors. If errors are identified, the operator must correct the errors and send a revised transmission to NMFS which will then confirm acceptance of the ELB data.

(ii) The operator must retain the NMFS return receipt as described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section.

(iii) If a return receipt from NMFS is not received within 24 hours, the operator of the catcher vessel, the operator of a catcher/processor, the operator of the mothership, or the manager of the shoreside processor or SFP forwarding the ELB data export for the operator of the catcher vessel, must contact NMFS by telephone at 907-586-7228 or fax at 907-586-7131 for instructions.

(g) Product transfer report (Pspan)—(1) General requirements. Except as provided in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (v) of this section, the operator or manager must record on a Pspan those species that are listed in Tables 2a and 2c to this part when those species are transferred out of the facility or off the vessel and may also record species listed in Table 2d to this part. For a comparison of forms used for shipping, transporting, or transferring fish or fish product, see Table 13 to this part.

(i) Groundfish and donated prohibited species. The operator of a mothership or catcher/processor or the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP must complete and submit a separate Pspan for each shipment of groundfish and donated prohibited species caught in groundfish fisheries. A Pspan is not required to accompany a shipment.

(ii) IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, and CDQ halibut. A Registered Buyer must submit a separate Pspan for each shipment of halibut or sablefish for which the Registered Buyer submitted an IFQ landing report or was required to submit an IFQ landing report. A Pspan is not required to accompany a shipment.

(iii) CR crab. A Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) must submit a separate Pspan for each shipment of crab for which the RCR submitted a CR crab landing report or was required to submit a CR crab landing report. A Pspan is not required to accompany a shipment.

(2) Exceptions—(i) Bait sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). During one calendar day, the operator or manager may aggregate and record on one Pspan the individual sales or shipments of non-IFQ groundfish to vessels for bait purposes during the day recording the amount of such bait product shipped from a vessel or facility that day.

(ii) Retail sales—(A) IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish. During one calendar day, the operator, manager, or Registered Buyer may aggregate and record on one Pspan the amount of transferred retail product of IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish if each sale weighs less than 10 lb or 4.5 kg.

(B) CR crab. During one calendar day, the RCR may aggregate and record on one Pspan the amount of transferred retail product of CR crab if each sale weighs less than 100 lb or 45 kg.

(iii) Wholesale sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). The operator or manager may aggregate and record on one Pspan, wholesale sales of non-IFQ groundfish by species when recording the amount of such wholesale species leaving a vessel or facility in one calendar day, if invoices detailing destinations for all of the product are available for inspection by an authorized officer.

(iv) Dockside sales.

(A) A person holding a valid IFQ permit, or IFQ hired master permit, and a Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.

(B) A person holding a valid halibut CDQ hired master permit and Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of CDQ halibut with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all CDQ halibut have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.

(C) A Registered Buyer conducting dockside sales must issue a receipt to each individual receiving IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish in lieu of a Pspan. This receipt must include:

(1) Date of sale;

(2) Registered Buyer permit number;

(3) Weight by product of the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish transferred.

(D) A Registered Buyer must maintain a copy of each dockside sales receipt as described in paragraph (l) of this section.

(v) Transfer directly from the landing site to a processing facility (CDQ halibut, IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab only). A Pspan is not required for transportation of unprocessed IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, or CR crab directly from the landing site to a facility for processing, provided the following conditions are met:

(A) A copy of the IFQ landing report receipt (Internet receipt) documenting the IFQ landing accompanies the offloaded IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut while in transit.

(B) A copy of the CR crab landing report receipt (Internet receipt) documenting the IFQ landing accompanies the offloaded CR crab while in transit.

(C) A copy of the IFQ landing report or CR crab landing report receipt is available for inspection by an authorized officer.

(D) The Registered Buyer submitting the IFQ landing report or RCR submitting the CR crab landing report completes a Pspan for each shipment from the processing facility pursuant to paragraph (g)(1) of this section.

(3) Time limits and submittal. The operator of a mothership or catcher/processor, the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP, the Registered Buyer, or RCR must:

(i) Record all product transfer information on a Pspan within 2 hours of the completion of the shipment.

(ii) Submit a Pspan by facsimile or electronic file to OLE, Juneau, AK (907-586-7313), by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the shipment occurred.

(iii) If any information on the original Pspan changes prior to the first destination of the shipment, submit a revised Pspan by facsimile or electronic file to OLE, Juneau, AK (907-586-7313), by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the change occurred.

(4) Required information. The operator of a mothership or catcher/processor, the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP, the Registered Buyer, or RCR must include the following information on a Pspan:

(i) Original or revised Pspan. Whether a submittal is an original or revised Pspan.

(ii) Shipper information. Name, telephone number, and facsimile number of the representative. According to the following table:

(iii) Transfer information. Using descriptions from the following table, enter receiver information, date and time of product transfer, location of product transfer (e.g., port, position coordinates, or city), mode of transportation, and intended route:

(iv) Products shipped. The operator, manager, Registered Buyer, or RCR must record the following information for each product shipped:

(A) Species code and product code. (1) For non-IFQ groundfish, IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, and CDQ halibut, the species code and product code (Tables 1 and 2 to this part).

(2) For CR crab, the species code and product code (Tables 1 and 2 to 50 CFR part 680).

(B) Species weight. Use only if recording 2 or more species with 2 or more product types contained within the same production unit. Enter the actual scale weight of each product of each species to the nearest kilogram or pound (indicate which). If not applicable, enter “n/a” in the species weight column. If using more than one line to record species in one carton, use a brace “}” to tie the carton information together.

(C) Number of units. Total number of production units (blocks, trays, pans, individual fish, boxes, or cartons; if iced, enter number of totes or containers).

(D) Unit weight. Unit weight (average weight of single production unit as listed in “No. of Units” less packing materials) for each species and product code in kilograms or pounds (indicate which).

(E) Total weight. Total weight for each species and product code of shipment less packing materials in kilograms or pounds (indicate which).

(F) Total or partial offload. (1) If a mothership or catcher/processor, the operator must indicate whether fish or fish products are left onboard the vessel (partial offload) after the shipment is complete.

(2) If a partial offload, for the products remaining on board after the transfer, the operator must enter: Species code, product code, and total product weight to the nearest kilogram or pound (indicate which) for each product.

(h) Check-in/Check-out report—(1) Requirement. Except as described in paragraph (h)(2) of this section, the operator of a catcher/processor or mothership and manager of a shoreside processor or SFP must submit to NMFS a check-in report (BEGIN message) prior to becoming active and a check-out report (CEASE message) for every check-in report submitted. The check-in report and check-out report must be submitted by fax to 907-586-7131.

(2) Exceptions—(i) VMS onboard. The operator of a catcher/processor or mothership is not required to submit to NMFS a check-in report or check-out report if the vessel is carrying onboard a transmitting VMS that meets the requirements of § 679.28(f).

(ii) Two adjacent reporting areas. If on the same day a catcher/processor intends to fish in two adjacent reporting areas (an action which would require submittal of check-out reports and check-in reports multiple times a day when crossing back and forth across a reporting area boundary), and the two reporting areas have on that day and time an identical fishing status for every species, the operator must:

(A) Submit to NMFS a check-in report to the first area prior to entering the first reporting area, and

(B) Submit to NMFS a check-in report to the second area prior to entering the second reporting area.

(C) Remain within 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) of the boundary described in paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of this section.

(D) If the catcher/processor proceeds in the second reporting area beyond 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) of the boundary between the two areas, the operator must submit a check-out report from the first reporting area. The operator must submit a check-out report from the second area upon exiting that reporting area.

(3) Transit through reporting areas. The operator of a catcher/processor or mothership is not required to submit a check-in or check-out report if the vessel is transiting through a reporting area and is not fishing or receiving fish.

(4) Time limits and submittal. Except as indicated in paragraph (h)(2) of this section, the operator or manager must submit a check-in report and a check-out report according to the following table:

(5) Required information. The operator of a catcher/processor or mothership and the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP must record the information in the following table on a check-in report and a check-out report, as appropriate.

(i) Weekly production report (WPR). The WPR is removed from use. Instead of a WPR, the operator of a mothership or catcher/processor and the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP must submit all landings information, production information, and discard and disposition information using eLandings or other NMFS-approved software (see paragraph (e) of this section).

(j) [Reserved]

(k) U.S. Vessel Activity Report (VAR). For a comparison of forms used for shipping, transporting, or transferring fish or fish product, see Table 13 to this part.

(1) Fish or fish product onboard. Except as noted in paragraph (k)(4) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, a catcher/processor, or a mothership required to hold a Federal fisheries permit issued under this part and carrying fish or fish product onboard must complete and submit a VAR by facsimile or electronic file to OLE, Juneau, AK (907-586-7313) before the vessel crosses the seaward boundary of the EEZ off Alaska or crosses the U.S.-Canadian international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia.

(2) Combination of non-IFQ groundfish with IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish or CR crab. If a vessel is carrying non-IFQ groundfish and IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish or CR crab, the operator must submit a VAR in addition to an IFQ Departure Report required by paragraph (l)(4) of this section.

(3) Revised VAR. If fish or fish products are landed at a port other than the one specified on the VAR, the operator must submit a revised VAR showing the actual port of landing before any fish are offloaded.

(4) Exemption: IFQ Departure Report. A VAR is not required if a vessel is carrying only IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab onboard and the operator has submitted an IFQ Departure Report required by paragraph (l)(4) of this section.

(5) Information required. (i) Whether original or revised VAR.

(ii) Name and Federal fisheries permit number of vessel or RCR permit number.

(iii) Type of vessel (whether catcher vessel, catcher/processor, or mothership).

(iv) Name, daytime telephone number (including area code), and facsimile number and COMSAT number (if available) of representative.

(v) Return report. “Return,” for purposes of this paragraph, means returning to Alaska. If the vessel is crossing the seaward boundary of the EEZ off Alaska or crossing the U.S.-Canadian international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia into U.S. waters, indicate a “return” report and enter:

(A) Intended Alaska port of landing (see Table 14a to this part);

(B) Estimated date and time (hour and minute, Greenwich mean time) the vessel will cross the boundary; and

(C) The estimated position coordinates in latitude and longitude where the vessel will cross.

(vi) Depart report. “Depart” means leaving Alaska. If the vessel is crossing the seaward boundary of the EEZ off Alaska and moving out of the EEZ or crossing the U.S.-Canadian international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia and moving into Canadian waters, indicate a “depart” report and enter:

(A) The intended U.S. port of landing or country other than the United States (see Table 14b to this part);

(B) Estimated date and time (hour and minute, Greenwich mean time) the vessel will cross the boundary; and

(C) The estimated position coordinates in latitude and longitude where the vessel will cross.

(vii) The Russian Zone. Indicate whether the vessel is returning from fishing in the Russian Zone or is departing to fish in the Russian Zone.

(viii) Fish or fish products. For all fish or fish products (including non-groundfish) on board the vessel, enter:

(A) Harvest zone code;

(B) Species codes;

(C) Product codes; and

(D) Total fish product weight in lbs or to the nearest 0.001 mt (2.20 lb).

(l) IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab R&R. In addition to the R&R requirements in this section, in 50 CFR part 680 with respect to CR crab, and as prescribed in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to § 300.62 of this title, the following reports and authorizations are required, when applicable: IFQ Prior Notice of Landing, Product Transfer Report (see § 679.5(g)), IFQ landing report, IFQ Transshipment Authorization, and IFQ Departure Report.

(1) IFQ Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL)—(i) Time limits and submittal. (A) Except as provided in paragraph (l)(1)(iv) of this section, the operator of any vessel making an IFQ landing must notify OLE, Juneau, AK, no fewer than 3 hours before landing IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish, unless permission to commence an IFQ landing within 3 hours of notification is granted by a clearing officer.

(B) A PNOL must be made to the toll-free telephone number 800-304-4846 or to 907-586-7163 between the hours of 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 2400 hours, A.l.t.

(ii) Revision to PNOL. The operator of any vessel wishing to make an IFQ landing before the date and time (A.l.t.) reported in the PNOL or later than 2 hours after the date and time (A.l.t.) reported in the PNOL must submit a new PNOL as described in paragraphs (l)(1)(i) and (iii) of this section.

(iii) Information required. A PNOL must include the following:

(A) Vessel name and ADF&G vessel registration number;

(B) Port of landing and port code from Tables 14a and 14b to this part;

(C) Exact location of landing within the port (i.e., dock name, harbor name, facility name, or geographical coordinates);

(D) The date and time (A.l.t.) that the landing will take place;

(E) Species and estimated weight (in pounds) of the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish that will be landed;

(F) IFQ regulatory area(s) in which the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish were harvested;

(G) IFQ permit number(s) that will be used to land the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish;

(H) Gear type used to harvest the IFQ sablefish or IFQ halibut (see Table 15 to this part); and

(I) If using longline pot gear in the GOA or pot gear in the BSAI, report the number of pots set, the number of pots lost, and the number of pots left deployed on the fishing grounds.

(iv) Exemption—(A) Halibut. An IFQ landing of halibut of 500 lb or less of IFQ weight determined pursuant to § 679.40(h) and concurrent with a legal landing of salmon harvested using hand troll gear or power troll gear is exempt from the PNOL required by this section.

(B) Lingcod. An IFQ landing of halibut of 500 lb or less of IFQ weight determined pursuant to § 679.40(h) and concurrent with a legal landing of lingcod harvested using dinglebar gear is exempt from the PNOL required by this section.

(2) IFQ landing—(i) Remain at landing site. Once the landing has commenced, the IFQ permit holder, the IFQ hired master permit holder, or the CDQ hired master permit holder, and the harvesting vessel may not leave the landing site until the IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut account is properly debited (see § 679.40(h)).

(ii) No movement of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish. The offloaded IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish may not be moved from the landing site until the IFQ Landing Report is completed through eLandings or other NMFS-approved software and the IFQ permit holder's or CDQ permit holder's account is properly debited (see § 679.40(h)).

(iii) Single offload site—(A) IFQ halibut and CDQ halibut. The vessel operator who lands IFQ halibut or CDQ halibut must continuously and completely offload at a single offload site all halibut onboard the vessel.

(B) IFQ sablefish. The vessel operator who lands IFQ sablefish must continuously and completely offload at a single offload site all sablefish onboard the vessel.

(3) Transshipment authorization. For a comparison of forms used for shipping, transporting, or transferring fish or fish product, see Table 13 to this part.

(i) No person may transship processed IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab between vessels without authorization by a local clearing officer. Authorization from a local clearing officer must be obtained for each instance of transshipment at least 24 hours before the transshipment is intended to commence.

(ii) Information required. To obtain a Transshipment Authorization, the vessel operator must provide the following information to the clearing officer:

(A) Date and time (A.l.t.) of transshipment;

(B) Location of transshipment;

(C) Name and ADF&G vessel registration number of vessel offloading transshipment;

(D) Name of vessel receiving the transshipment;

(E) Product destination;

(F) Species and product type codes;

(G) Total product weight;

(H) Time (A.l.t.) and date of the request;

(I) Name, telephone number, FAX number (if any) for the person making the request.

(4) IFQ departure report. For a comparison of forms used for shipping, transporting, or transferring fish or fish product, see Table 13 to this part.

(i) General requirements—(A) Time limit and submittal. A vessel operator who intends to make a landing of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab at any location other than in an IFQ regulatory area for halibut and sablefish or in a crab fishery for CR crab (see Table 1 to part 680) in the State of Alaska must submit an IFQ Departure Report, by telephone, to OLE, Juneau, AK, (800-304-4846 or 907-586-7163) between the hours of 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 2400 hours, A.l.t.

(B) Completion of fishing. A vessel operator must submit an IFQ Departure Report after completion of all fishing and prior to departing the waters of the EEZ adjacent to the jurisdictional waters of the State of Alaska, the territorial sea of the State of Alaska, or the internal waters of the State of Alaska when IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab are on board.

(C) Permit—(1) Registered Crab Receiver permit. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report for CR crab must have a Registered Crab Receiver permit.

(2) Registered Buyer permit. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report for IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish must have a Registered Buyer permit.

(D) First landing of any species. A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report must submit IFQ landing reports for all IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish on board at the same time and place as the first landing of any IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish.

(E) Permits on board. (1) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish must have one or more IFQ permit holders or IFQ hired master permit holders on board with a combined IFQ balance equal to or greater than all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish on board the vessel.

(2) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document CDQ halibut must ensure that one or more CDQ hired master permit holders are onboard with enough remaining halibut CDQ balance to harvest amounts of CDQ halibut equal to or greater than all CDQ halibut onboard.

(3) A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report to document CR crab must have one or more permit holders on board with a combined CR balance equal to or greater than all CR crab on board the vessel.

(ii) Required information. When submitting an IFQ Departure Report, the vessel operator must provide the following information:

(A) Intended date, time (A.l.t.), and location of landing;

(B) Vessel name and ADF&G vessel registration number;

(C) Vessel operator's name and Registered Buyer permit or Registered Crab Receiver permit number;

(D) Halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and CR crab permit numbers of IFQ and CDQ permit holders on board;

(E) Area of harvest. (1) If IFQ or CDQ halibut, then halibut regulatory areas (see Figure 15 to this part).

(2) If IFQ sablefish, then sablefish regulatory areas (see Figure 14 to this part).

(3) If CR crab, then the crab rationalization fishery code (see Table 1 to part 680).

(F) Estimated total weight as appropriate of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab on board (lb/kg/mt).

(iii) Revision to Departure Report. A vessel operator who intends to make an IFQ landing at a location different from the location named on the IFQ Departure report must submit a revised report naming the new location at least 12 hours in advance of the offload. Revisions must be submitted by telephone, to OLE, Juneau, AK, (800-304-4846 or 907-586-7163) between the hours of 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 2400 hours, A.l.t.

(5) Landing verification, inspection and record retention—(i) Verification and inspection. Each IFQ landing and all fish retained on board the vessel making an IFQ landing are subject to verification and inspection by authorized officers.

(ii) Record retention. The IFQ permit holder, IFQ hired master permit holder, or CDQ hired master permit holder must retain a legible copy of all Landing Report receipts, and the Registered Buyer must retain a copy of all reports and receipts required by this section. All retained records must be available for inspection by an authorized officer:

(A) Until the end of the fishing year during which the records were made and for as long thereafter as fish or fish products recorded are retained onboard the vessel or at the facility; and

(B) Upon request of an authorized officer for 3 years after the end of the fishing year during which the records were made.

(6) Sampling—(i) Each IFQ landing and all fish retained onboard a vessel making an IFQ landing are subject to sampling by NMFS-authorized observers.

(ii) Each IFQ halibut landing or CDQ halibut landing is subject to sampling for biological information by persons authorized by the IPHC.

(7) IFQ cost recovery program—(i) IFQ Registered Buyer Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report (IFQ Buyer Report)—(A) Applicability. An IFQ Registered Buyer that operates as a shoreside processor and receives and purchases IFQ landings of sablefish or halibut or CDQ landings of halibut must submit annually to NMFS a complete IFQ Buyer Report as described in this paragraph (l) and as provided by NMFS for each reporting period, as described at § 679.5(1)(7)(i)(E), in which the Registered Buyer receives IFQ fish or CDQ halibut.

(B) Due date. A complete IFQ Buyer Report must be postmarked or received by the Regional Administrator not later than October 15 following the reporting period in which the IFQ Registered Buyer receives the IFQ fish or CDQ halibut.

(C) Information required. A complete IFQ Buyer Report must include the following information as instructed on the report form at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram:

(1) IFQ Registered Buyer identification.

(2) Pounds purchased and values paid. (i) The monthly total weights, represented in IFQ equivalent pounds by IFQ species or CDQ halibut, that were landed at the landing port location and purchased by the IFQ Registered Buyer;

(ii) The monthly total gross ex-vessel value, in U.S. dollars, of IFQ pounds, by IFQ species or CDQ halibut, that were landed at the landing port location and purchased by the IFQ Registered Buyer;

(3) Value paid for price adjustments—(i) Retro-payments. The monthly total U.S. dollar amount of any retro-payments (correlated by IFQ species or CDQ halibut, landing month(s), and month of payment) made in the current year to IFQ, or to CDQ halibut permit holders for landings made during the previous calendar year;

(ii) Electronic submittal. Certification, including the NMFS ID and password of the IFQ Registered Buyer; or

(iii) Non-electronic submittal. Certification, including the printed name and signature of the individual submitting the IFQ Buyer Report on behalf of the Registered Buyer, and date of signature.

(D) Submittal. If applicable, the Registered Buyer must complete an IFQ Buyer Report and submit by mail or FAX to NMFS at the address provided on the form, or electronically to NMFS online at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram.

(E) Reporting period. The reporting period of the IFQ Buyer Report shall extend from October 1 through September 30 of the following year, inclusive.

(ii) IFQ Permit Holder Fee Submission Form—(A) Applicability. An IFQ permit holder who holds an IFQ permit against which a landing was made or an RQE that holds RFQ must submit to NMFS a complete IFQ Permit Holder Fee Submission Form provided by NMFS.

(B) Due date and submittal. A complete IFQ Permit Holder Fee Submission Form must be postmarked or received by the Regional Administrator not later than January 31 following the calendar year in which any IFQ landing was made.

(C) Completed application. NMFS will process an IFQ Permit Holder Fee Submission Form provided that a paper or electronic form is completed by the IFQ permit holder or an RQE that holds RFQ, with all applicable fields accurately filled in, and all required additional documentation is attached.

(D) IFQ landing summary and estimated fee liability. NMFS will provide to an IFQ permit holder and an RQE that holds RFQ an IFQ Landing and Estimated Fee Liability page as required by § 679.45(a)(2). The IFQ permit holder must either accept the accuracy of the NMFS estimated fee liability associated with his or her IFQ landings for each IFQ permit, or calculate a revised IFQ fee liability in accordance with paragraph (l)(7)(ii)(E) of this section. The IFQ permit holder may calculate a revised fee liability for all or part of his or her IFQ landings.

(E) Revised fee liability calculation. To calculate a revised fee liability, an IFQ permit holder must multiply the IFQ percentage in effect by either the IFQ actual ex-vessel value or the IFQ standard ex-vessel of the IFQ landing. If parts of the landing have different values, the permit holder must apply the appropriate values to the different parts of the landings.

(F) Documentation. If NMFS requests in writing that a permit holder submit documentation establishing the factual basis for a revised IFQ fee liability, the permit holder must submit adequate documentation by the 30th day after the date of such request. Examples of such documentation regarding initial sales transactions of IFQ landings include valid fish tickets, sales receipts, or check stubs that clearly identify the IFQ landing amount, species, date, time, and ex-vessel value or price.

(G) Reporting period. The reporting period of the IFQ Permit Holder Fee Submission Form shall extend from January 1 to December 31 of the year prior to the January 31 due date.

(8) An annual report on the halibut and sablefish IFQ activity must be submitted by the CQE as required at § 679.5(t).

(9) Recreational Quota Entity Program annual report. An annual report on RQE activities must be submitted to NMFS by the RQE as required at § 679.5(v).

(10) A report on annual IFQ regulatory areas 4B, 4C, and 4D Halibut IFQ transfer activities must be submitted to NMFS and the Council by a CDQ group as required at § 679.5(w).

(m) CDQ Vessel Registration—(1) Registration. The representative for a CDQ group must register each vessel that is to receive the exemption from the LLP license requirements at § 679.4(k)(2)(vi) through the CDQ vessel registration system available on the NMFS Alaska Region Web site (http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov). The CDQ group representative must log into the CDQ vessel registration system and provide the information required on the computer screen. NMFS will add each vessel successfully registered to the CDQ vessel registration list on the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

(2) Responsibility. The CDQ group representative must successfully complete vessel registration through the CDQ vessel registration system before the vessel may be used to conduct groundfish CDQ fishing under § 679.32(c)(3)(iii) without an LLP license. By using the CDQ group's NMFS ID and password and submitting the vessel registration request, the CDQ group representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

(3) LLP exemption letter. The CDQ vessel registration system will provide the CDQ group representative with an LLP exemption letter documenting that the registered vessel is exempt from the LLP when groundfish CDQ fishing. The CDQ group representative must provide a copy of the LLP exemption letter to the operator of the registered vessel named in the LLP exemption letter. The operator of the registered vessel named in the LLP exemption letter must maintain a legible copy of the LLP exemption letter on board the registered vessel at all times when that vessel is groundfish CDQ fishing.

(4) Removing a vessel from the CDQ vessel registration list. A CDQ group representative may remove a vessel from the CDQ vessel registration system by logging into the online system and following the applicable instructions. A CDQ group representative may remove a registered vessel from the CDQ vessel registration list at any time but must certify at the time of removal that the vessel operator had been given notice by the CDQ group that the vessel is going to be removed from the list and that the vessel is not groundfish CDQ fishing at the time of removal. A vessel that is successfully removed from the CDQ vessel registration list is no longer exempt from the LLP requirements under § 679.4(k).

(n) CDQ and PSQ transfers—

(1) CDQ or PSQ transfer. NMFS will process a request for CDQ or PSQ transfer between CDQ groups provided that the requirements of this paragraph are met.

(2) Completed application. A paper or electronic request form must be completed with all information fields accurately filled in by transferors and transferees, and all required additional documentation must be attached.

(3) Certification of transferor—(i) Non-electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative must sign and date the application certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the paper application as indicated on the application.

(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative must log into the system and create a transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

(4) Certification of transferee—(i) Non-electronic submittal. The transferee's designated representative must sign and date the application certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete.

(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated representative must log into the system and create a transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

(o) [Reserved]

(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 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 tender vessel. 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 for which the report is required to the following address:

ADF&G Division of Commercial Fisheries, Attn: COAR, P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 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 was conducted during the appropriate year.

(iv) If response to paragraph (p)(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 (p)(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 information (exvessel), Forms A (1-3), C (1-2), E, G, I (1-2), and K—(i) Requirement. The owner of a mothership (if the first purchaser of raw fish) must complete and submit the appropriate COAR buying forms (A (1-3), C (1-2), E, G, I (1-2), and K) for each species purchased from fishermen 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 weight (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 may 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) 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 that occurred 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 can size in ounces, to the hundredth of an ounce.

(E) Enter number of cans per case.

(F) 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).

(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).

(q) AI directed pollock fishery catch reports—(1) Applicability. The Aleut Corporation shall provide NMFS the identity of its designated contact for the Aleut Corporation. The Aleut Corporation shall submit to the Regional Administrator a pollock catch report containing information required by paragraph (q)(3) of this section.

(2) Time limits and submittal. (i) The Aleut Corporation must submit its AI directed pollock fishery catch reports by one of the following methods:

(A) An electronic data file in a format approved by NMFS; or

(B) By fax.

(ii) The AI directed pollock fishery catch reports must be received by the Regional Administrator by 1200 hours, A.l.t. on Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period, as defined at § 679.2.

(3) Information required. The AI directed pollock fishery catch report must contain the following information:

(i) Catcher vessel ADF&G number;

(ii) Federal fisheries or Federal processor permit number;

(iii) Delivery date;

(iv) Pollock harvested:

(A) For shoreside and stationary floating processors and motherships, the amount of pollock (in lb for shoreside and stationary floating processors and in mt for motherships) delivered, including the weight of at-sea pollock discards; and

(B) For catcher/processors, the amount of pollock (in mt) harvested and processed, including the weight of at-sea pollock discards; and

(v) ADF&G fish ticket number.

(r) Rockfish Program—(1) General. The owners and operators of catcher vessels, catcher/processors, and shoreside processors authorized as participants in the Rockfish Program must comply with the applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements of this section and must assign all catch to a rockfish cooperative or rockfish sideboard fishery, as applicable at the time of catch or receipt of groundfish. All owners of catcher vessels, catcher/processors, and shoreside processors authorized as participants in the Rockfish Program must ensure that their designated representatives or employees comply with all applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

(2) Logbook—(i) DFL. Operators of catcher vessels equal to or greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA participating in a Rockfish Program fishery and using trawl gear must maintain a daily fishing logbook for trawl gear as described in paragraphs (a) and (c) of this section.

(ii) ELB. Operators of catcher/processors permitted in the Rockfish Program must use a combination of NMFS-approved catcher/processor trawl gear ELB and eLandings to record and report groundfish and PSC information as described in paragraph (f) of this section to record Rockfish Program landings and production.

(3) eLandings. Managers of shoreside processors that receive rockfish primary species or rockfish secondary species in the Rockfish Program must use eLandings or NMFS-approved software as described in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section, instead of a logbook and WPR, to record Rockfish Program landings and production.

(4) Production reports. Operators of catcher/processors that are authorized as processors in the Rockfish Program must submit a production report as described in paragraphs (e)(9) and (10) of this section.

(5) Product transfer report (Pspan), processors. Operators of catcher/processors and managers of shoreside processors that are authorized as processors in the Rockfish Program must submit a Pspan as described in paragraph (g) of this section.

(6) [Reserved]

(7) Vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements (see § 679.28(f)).

(8) Rockfish cooperative vessel check-in and check-out report—(i) Applicability—(A) Vessel check-in. The designated representative of a rockfish cooperative must designate any vessel that is authorized to fish under the rockfish cooperative's CQ permit, or, if authorized by the rockfish cooperative, the operator of a vessel must do so, before that vessel may fish under that CQ permit through a check-in procedure. The designated representative for a rockfish cooperative or operator of the vessel must submit to NMFS, in accordance with paragraph (r)(8)(ii) of this section, a check-in designation for a vessel:

(1) At least 24 hours prior to the time the catcher vessel begins a fishing trip to fish under a CQ permit; or

(2) At least 1 hour prior to the time the catcher/processor begins a fishing trip to fish under a CQ permit; and

(3) A check-in designation is effective at the beginning of the first fishing trip after the designation has been submitted.

(B) Vessel check-out. The designated representative of a rockfish cooperative must designate any vessel that is no longer fishing under a CQ permit for that rockfish cooperative, or, if authorized by the rockfish cooperative, the operator of the vessel must do so, through a check-out procedure. A check-out report must be submitted to NMFS, in accordance with (r)(8)(ii) of this section, within 6 hours after the effective date and time the rockfish cooperative ends the vessel's authority to fish under the CQ permit.

(1) If the vessel is fishing under a CQ permit for a catcher vessel cooperative, a check-out designation is effective at the end of a complete offload;

(2) If the vessel is fishing under a CQ permit for a catcher/processor cooperative, a check-out designation is effective upon submission to NMFS.

(ii) Submittal. The designated representative of the rockfish cooperative or, if authorized by the rockfish cooperative, the operator of a vessel must submit a vessel check-in or check-out report electronically. The rockfish cooperative's designated representative or vessel operator must log into the online system and create a vessel check-in or vessel check-out request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the NMFS ID password and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative or vessel operator certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

(iii) Information required. The vessel check-in or check-out report must contain the following information:

(A) CQ permit number;

(B) ADF&G vessel registration number(s) of vessel(s) designated to fish under the CQ permit;

(C) USCG designation number(s) of vessel(s) designated to fish under the CQ permit; and

(D) Date and time when check-in or check-out begins.

(9) Rockfish CQ cost recovery fee submission (See § 679.85).

(10) Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report—(i) Applicability. A rockfish processor (as defined at § 679.2) that receives and purchases landings of rockfish CQ groundfish must submit annually to NMFS a complete Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report, as described in this paragraph (r)(10), for each reporting period for which the rockfish processor receives rockfish CQ groundfish.

(ii) Reporting period. The reporting period of the Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report shall extend from April 1 through November 15 of each year.

(iii) Due date. A complete Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report must be received by the Regional Administrator not later than December 1 of the year in which the rockfish processor received the rockfish CQ groundfish.

(iv) Information required. (A) The rockfish processor must log in using the rockfish processor's password and NMFS person ID to submit a Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report. The NMFS software autofills the rockfish processor's name. The User must review the autofilled cells to ensure that they are accurate. A completed application must contain the information specified on the Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report with all applicable fields accurately filled-in.

(B) Certification. By using the rockfish processor NMFS ID and password and submitting the report, the rockfish processor certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

(v) Submittal. The rockfish processor must complete and submit online by electronic submission to NMFS the Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report available at the Alaska Region website.

(s) Amendment 80 Program—(1) General. The owners and operators of Amendment 80 vessels must comply with the applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements of this section. All owners of Amendment 80 vessels must ensure that their designated representatives or employees comply with all applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

(2) Logbook-DCPL. Operators of Amendment 80 vessels must use a daily cumulative production logbook for trawl gear as described in paragraph (a) of this section to record Amendment 80 Program landings and production.

(3) Check-in/check-out report, processors. Operators or managers of an Amendment 80 vessel must submit check-in/check-out reports as described in paragraph (h) of this section.

(4) Production report. Operators of Amendment 80 vessels that use a DCPL must submit a production report as described in paragraph (e)(10) of this section.

(5) Product transfer report (Pspan), processors. Operators of Amendment 80 vessels must submit a Pspan as described in paragraph (g) of this section.

(6) Annual Amendment 80 cooperative report—(i) Applicability. An Amendment 80 cooperative issued a CQ permit must submit annually to the Regional Administrator an Amendment 80 cooperative report detailing the use of the cooperative's CQ.

(ii) Time limits and submittal. (A) The annual Amendment 80 cooperative report must be submitted to the Regional Administrator by an electronic data file in a NMFS-approved format; by fax: 907-586-7557; or by mail sent to the Regional Administrator, NMFS Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; and

(B) The annual Amendment 80 cooperative report for fishing activities under a CQ permit issued for the prior calendar year must be received by the Regional Administrator not later than 1700 hours A.l.t. on March 1 of each year.

(iii) Information required. The annual Amendment 80 cooperative report must include at a minimum:

(A) The cooperative's actual retained and discarded catch of CQ and GOA sideboard limited fisheries (if applicable) by statistical area and on a vessel-by-vessel basis;

(B) A description of the method used by the cooperative to monitor fisheries in which cooperative vessels participated; and

(C) A description of any actions taken by the cooperative against specific members in response to a member that exceeded the amount of CQ that the member was assigned to catch for the Amendment 80 cooperative.

(D) For each Amendment 80 cooperative, the percent of groundfish retained by that Amendment 80 cooperative of the aggregate groundfish retained by all Amendment 80 vessels assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative using the following equations:

Substituting the value for GFroundweight into the following equation:

(E) For each Amendment 80 cooperative, a third party must audit the Amendment 80 cooperative's annual groundfish retention calculations and the Amendment 80 cooperative must include the finding of the third party audit in its Amendment 80 annual cooperative report.

(7) Vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements (see § 679.28(f)).

(t) Community Entity Quota Program Annual Report—(1) Applicability. A CQE must submit an annual report on the CQE's administrative activities, business operation, and community fishing activities for each calendar year it holds any of the following: community charter halibut permits as described at § 300.67(k) of this title, halibut and sablefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) and quota shares (QS) as described at § 679.41(l)(3), and community Pacific cod endorsed non-trawl groundfish license limitation program (LLP) licenses as described at § 679.4(k)(10)(vi)(F)(2). The CQE may combine annual reports about its holdings of community charter halibut permits, IFQ, and LLPs in one report. A CQE must submit annual report data for the community charter halibut permit, IFQ, and LLP permits it held during the calendar year. A CQE is not required to submit an annual report for any calendar year in which it did not hold any community charter halibut permits, IFQ, or LLPs.

(2) Time limits and submittal. By January 31, the CQE must submit a complete annual report for the prior calendar year to the Regional Administrator, and to the governing body of each community represented by the CQE as identified in Table 21 to this part.

(3) Complete annual report. A complete annual report contains all general report requirements listed in paragraphs (t)(4)(i) through (t)(4)(iii) of this section and all program specific report requirements applicable to the CQE as described in paragraphs (t)(5)(i) through (t)(5)(iii).

(4) General report requirements. Each CQE must report the following information:

(i) The eligible community or communities, represented by the CQE, any new communities, and any withdrawn communities;

(ii) Any changes in the bylaws of the CQE, board of directors, or other key management personnel; and

(iii) Copies of minutes and other relevant decision making documents from all CQE board meetings held during the prior calendar year.

(5) Program specific report requirements. Each CQE must report business operations and fishing activity for the charter halibut permit, IFQ, and LLP programs for each eligible community represented by the CQE.

(i) If a community in Table 21 to part 679 was issued one or more charter halibut permits held on behalf of the community by a CQE, then the CQE must complete paragraphs (t)(5)(iv)(A) through (I) of this section;

(ii) If a community in Table 21 to part 679 leased halibut and sablefish IFQ derived from the QS held on behalf of the community by a CQE, then the CQE must complete paragraphs (t)(5)(v)(A) through (J) of this section; and

(iii) If a community in Table 21 to part 679 was assigned one or more Pacific cod endorsed non-trawl groundfish licenses held on behalf of the community by a CQE, then the CQE must complete paragraphs (t)(5)(vi)(A) through (I) of this section.

(iv) Charter Halibut Limited Access Program. For each community represented by the CQE, the program specific report for charter halibut permits held by a CQE, must include:

(A) The total number of charter halibut permits held by the CQE at the start of the calendar year, at the end of the calendar year, and projected to be held in the next calendar year;

(B) A description of the process used by the CQE to solicit applications from persons to use charter halibut permits that the CQE is holding on behalf of the eligible community;

(C) The total number of persons who applied to use one or more charter halibut permits;

(D) Name, business address, city and state, and number of charter halibut permits requested by each person who applied to use a charter halibut permit held by the CQE;

(E) A detailed description of the criteria used by the CQE to distribute charter halibut permits among persons who applied to use one or more charter halibut permits that the CQE is holding on behalf of the eligible community;

(F) For each person issued one or more charter halibut permits held by a CQE, provide their name, business address, city and state, ADF&G logbook number(s), and the number(s) of each charter halibut permits they were authorized to use with the corresponding regulatory area endorsement and angler endorsement;

(G) For each vessel authorized to participate in the charter halibut fishery using one or more charter halibut permits held by the CQE, provide the vessel name, ADF&G vessel registration number, USCG documentation number, length overall, home port and each charter halibut permits number held by the CQE and used onboard the vessel;

(H) For each vessel authorized to participate in the charter halibut fishery using one or more charter halibut permits held by the CQE, provide each set of ports from which the vessel departed and to which it returned, and the total number of trips that occurred to and from each set of ports when one or more charter halibut permits held by the CQE was used onboard the vessel; and

(I) For each community represented by the CQE, provide any payments made to the CQE for use of the charter halibut permits.

(v) Individual Fishing Quota Program. For each community represented by the CQE, the program specific report for halibut IFQ or sablefish IFQ that were derived from QS held by the CQE must include:

(A) The total amount of halibut QS and total amount of sablefish QS held by the CQE at the start of the calendar year, at the end of the calendar year, and projected to be held in the next calendar year;

(B) A description of the process used by the CQE to solicit applications from eligible community residents and non-residents to use IFQ that is derived from QS that the CQE is holding on behalf of the eligible community;

(C) The total number of eligible community residents and non-residents who applied to use IFQ derived from QS held by the CQE;

(D) Name, business address, city and state, and amount of IFQ requested by each person who applied to use IFQ derived from QS held by the CQE;

(E) A detailed description of the criteria used by the CQE to distribute IFQ among eligible community residents and non-residents who applied to use IFQ held by the CQE;

(F) For each person who leased IFQ derived from QS held by the CQE, provide their name, business address, city and state, each IFQ permit number, and the total pounds of halibut IFQ and total pounds of sablefish IFQ they were authorized to use through each IFQ permit number;

(G) For each vessel used to harvest IFQ derived from QS held by the CQE, provide the vessel name, ADF&G vessel registration number, USCG documentation number, length overall, home port, and each IFQ permit number(s) used onboard;

(H) A description of the efforts made by the CQE to ensure crew members onboard the vessels used to harvest the IFQ derived from QS held by the CQE are residents of the CQE eligible community;

(I) Name, resident city and state of each person employed as a crew member on each vessel used to harvest IFQ derived from QS held by the CQE; and

(J) For each community whose eligible community residents and non-residents landed IFQ derived from QS held by the CQE, provide any payments made to the CQE for use of the IFQ.

(vi) License Limitation Program. For each community represented by the CQE, the program specific report for GOA Pacific cod endorsed non-trawl groundfish licenses held by a CQE must include:

(A) The total number of LLP groundfish licenses by gear type endorsement held by the CQE at the start of the calendar year, at the end of the calendar year, and projected to be held in the next calendar year;

(B) A description of the process used by the CQE to solicit applications from residents of the eligible community to use LLP groundfish license(s) that the CQE is holding on behalf of the eligible community;

(C) The total number of community residents who applied to use an LLP groundfish license held by the CQE;

(D) Name, business address, city and state, and number of LLP groundfish licenses requested by each person who applied to use a LLP groundfish license held by the CQE;

(E) A detailed description of the criteria used by the CQE to distribute LLP groundfish licenses among eligible community residents who applied to use LLP groundfish licenses held by the CQE;

(F) For each person assigned one or more LLP groundfish licenses held by the CQE, provide their name, business address, city and state, and LLP groundfish license numbers for permits of each gear endorsement type they were authorized to use;

(G) For each vessel authorized to harvest LLP groundfish using one or more LLP groundfish licenses held by the CQE, provide the vessel name, ADF&G vessel registration number, USCG documentation number, length overall, home port, and each LLP groundfish license number used onboard;

(H) Name, resident city and state of each person employed as a crew member on each vessel authorized to harvest LLP groundfish using one or more LLP groundfish licenses held by the CQE; and

(I) For each community whose residents made landings using one or more LLP groundfish licenses held by the CQE, provide any payments made to the CQE for use of the LLP groundfish licenses.

(u) BSAI Cost Recovery Volume and Value Reports—(1) Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report—(i) Applicability. A shoreside processor designated on an FPP, or a mothership designated on an FFP, that processes landings of either CDQ Pacific cod or BSAI Pacific cod harvested by a vessel using trawl gear must submit annually to NMFS a complete Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report, as described in this paragraph (u)(1), for each reporting period for which the shorebased processor or mothership receives this Pacific cod.

(ii) Reporting period. The reporting period of the Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report shall extend from January 1 to October 31 of the year in which the landings were made.

(iii) Due date. A complete Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report must be received by NMFS no later than November 10 of the year in which the processor or mothership received the Pacific cod.

(iv) Information required. (A) The submitter must log in using his or her password and NMFS person ID to submit a Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report. The User must review any auto-filled cells to ensure that they are accurate. A completed report must have all applicable fields accurately filled-in.

(B) Certification. By using the NMFS person ID and password and submitting the report, the submitter certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

(v) Submittal. The submitter must complete and submit online to NMFS the Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report available at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

(2) First Wholesale Volume and Value Report—(i) Applicability. An Amendment 80 vessel owner that harvests groundfish species, other than Pacific cod, must submit annually to NMFS a complete First Wholesale Volume and Value Report, as described in this paragraph (u)(2), for each reporting period for which the Amendment 80 vessel harvests groundfish species, other than Pacific cod.

(ii) Reporting period. (A) The reporting period of the First Wholesale Volume and Value Report for all species except rock sole shall extend from January 1 to October 31 of the year in which the landings were made.

(B) The first reporting period of the First Wholesale Volume and Value Report for rock sole shall extend from January 1 to March 31, and the second reporting period shall extend from April 1 to October 31.

(iii) Due date. A complete First Wholesale Volume and Value Report must be received by NMFS no later than November 10 of the year in which the Amendment 80 vessel received the groundfish species, other than Pacific cod.

(iv) Information required. (A) The Amendment 80 vessel owner must log in using his or her password and NMFS person ID to submit a First Wholesale Volume and Value Report. The vessel owner must review any auto-filled cells to ensure that they are accurate. A completed report must have all applicable fields accurately filled-in.

(B) Certification. By using the NMFS person ID and password and submitting the report, the Amendment 80 vessel owner certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

(v) Submittal. The Amendment 80 vessel owner must complete and submit online to NMFS the First Wholesale Volume and Value Report available at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

(v) Recreational Quota Entity Program Annual Report—(1) Applicability. The RQE must submit a timely and complete annual report on the RQE's administrative activities and business operation for each calendar year that it holds halibut recreational fishing quota (RFQ) and quota shares (QS). The RQE may combine annual reports on its holdings of halibut QS and RFQ for IFQ regulatory areas 2C and 3A into one report. The RQE must submit annual report data for the halibut QS and RFQ it held during the calendar year. The RQE is not required to submit an annual report for any calendar year in which it did not hold any halibut QS or RFQ.

(2) Time limits and submittal. By January 31, the RQE must submit a complete annual report for the prior calendar year to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 West 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, and to NMFS-Alaska Regional Administrator, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.

(3) Complete annual report. A complete annual report contains all general report requirements described in paragraphs (v)(4)(i) through (iv) of this section, and all information specific to IFQ regulatory areas 2C and 3A described in paragraphs (v)(5)(i) through (iii) of this section.

(4) General report requirements. The RQE must annually report the following information:

(i) Any changes to the bylaws, board of directors, or other key management personnel of the RQE from the preceding year;

(ii) Amount and description of annual administrative expenses;

(iii) Amount and description of funds spent on conservation and research, including a summary of the results of those expenditures; and

(iv) Amount and description of all other expenses incurred by the RQE.

(5) Information by IFQ regulatory area. For each IFQ regulatory area represented by the RQE, the RQE must annually report the following information:

(i) The total amount of halibut QS by category and blocks held by the RQE at the start of the calendar year, on October 1, and at the end of the calendar year;

(ii) A list of all transfers (purchases or sales) of halibut QS, including the transaction price; and

(iii) A description of the number of charter halibut permits and number of angler endorsements purchased and held by the RQE.

(w) Report on Area 4 halibut IFQ transfers to CDQ groups—(1) Applicability. A CDQ group that receives IFQ regulatory area 4 halibut IFQ by transfer must submit a timely and complete report on the CDQ group's annual halibut IFQ transfer activities for each calendar year that it receives IFQ regulatory area 4 halibut IFQ by transfer. A CDQ group is not required to submit a report for any calendar year in which it did not receive any IFQ regulatory area 4 halibut IFQ by transfer.

(2) Time limits and submittal. A CDQ group must submit a complete report by January 31 of the year following a fishing year during which the CDQ group receives IFQ regulatory area 4B, 4C, or 4D halibut IFQ by transfer. The complete report must be submitted to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 West 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, and to NMFS-Alaska Regional Administrator, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK, 99802-1668.

(3) Complete report. A complete report contains all report requirements described in paragraphs (w)(4)(i) through (w)(4)(iii) of this section.

(4) Report requirements. A CDQ group must report the following information:

(i) The annual amount, IFQ regulatory area, and vessel category of IFQ regulatory area 4B, 4C, and 4D halibut IFQ transferred to the CDQ group;

(ii) The criteria used to select IFQ holders to transfer IFQ regulatory area 4B, 4C, and 4D halibut IFQ to the CDQ group; and

(iii) The criteria used to determine the person(s) eligible to harvest IFQ regulatory area 4B, 4C, and 4D halibut IFQ received by transfer.

(x) PCTC Program. The owners and operators of catcher vessels and processors authorized as participants in the PCTC Program must comply with the applicable R&R requirements of this section and must assign all catch to a PCTC Program cooperative at the time of catch or receipt of groundfish. Owners of catcher vessels and processors authorized as participants in the PCTC Program must ensure that their designated representatives or employees comply with applicable R&R requirements as described at § 679.134.

(a) General. For limited experimental purposes, the Regional Administrator may authorize, after consulting with the Council, fishing for groundfish or fishing for Arctic fish in the Arctic Management Area in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited. No exempted fishing may be conducted unless authorized by an exempted fishing permit issued by the Regional Administrator to the participating vessel owner in accordance with the criteria and procedures specified in this section. Exempted fishing permits will be issued without charge and will expire at the end of a calendar year unless otherwise provided for under paragraph (e) of this section.

(b) Application. An applicant for an exempted fishing permit shall submit to the Regional Administrator, at least 60 days before the desired effective date of the exempted fishing permit, a written application including, but not limited to, the following information:

(1) The date of the application.

(2) The applicant's name, mailing address, and telephone number.

(3) A statement of the purpose and goal of the experiment for which an exempted fishing permit is needed, including a general description of the arrangements for disposition of all species harvested under the exempted fishing permit.

(4) Technical details about the experiment, including:

(i) Amounts of each species to be harvested that are necessary to conduct the experiment, and arrangement for disposition of all species taken.

(ii) Area and timing of the experiment.

(iii) Vessel and gear to be used.

(iv) Experimental design (e.g., sampling procedures, the data and samples to be collected, and analysis of the data and samples).

(v) Provision for public release of all obtained information, and submission of interim and final reports.

(5) The willingness of the applicant to carry observers, if required by the Regional Administrator, and a description of accommodations and work space for the observer(s).

(6) Details for all coordinating parties engaged in the experiment and signatures of all representatives of all principal parties.

(7) Information about each vessel to be covered by the exempted fishing permit, including:

(i) Vessel name.

(ii) Name, address, and telephone number of owner and master.

(iii) USCG documentation, state license, or registration number.

(iv) Home port.

(v) Length of vessel.

(vi) Net tonnage.

(vii) Gross tonnage.

(8) The signature of the applicant.

(9) The Regional Administrator may request from an applicant additional information necessary to make the determinations required under this section. Any application that does not include all necessary information will be considered incomplete. An incomplete application will not be considered to be complete until the necessary information is provided in writing. An applicant for an exempted fishing permit need not be the owner or operator of the vessel(s) for which the exempted fishing permit is requested.

(c) Review procedures. (1) The Regional Administrator, in consultation with the Alaska Fishery Science Center, will review each application and will make a preliminary determination whether the application contains all the information necessary to determine if the proposal constitutes a valid fishing experiment appropriate for further consideration. If the Regional Administrator finds any application does not warrant further consideration, the applicant will be notified in writing of the reasons for the decision.

(2) If the Regional Administrator determines any application is complete and warrants further consideration, he or she will initiate consultation with the Council by forwarding the application to the Council. The Council's Executive Director shall notify the applicant of a meeting at which the Council will consider the application and invite the applicant to appear in support of the application, if the applicant desires. If the Regional Administrator initiates consultation with the Council, NMFS will publish notification of receipt of the application in the Federal Register with a brief description of the proposal.

(d) Notifying the applicant. (1) The decision of the Regional Administrator, after consulting with the Council, to grant or deny an exempted fishing permit is the final action of the agency. The Regional Administrator shall notify the applicant in writing of the decision to grant or deny the exempted fishing permit and, if denied, the reasons for the denial, including:

(i) The applicant has failed to disclose material information required, or has made false statements as to any material fact, in connection with the application.

(ii) According to the best scientific information available, the harvest to be conducted under the permit would detrimentally affect living marine resources, including marine mammals and birds, and their habitat in a significant way.

(iii) Activities to be conducted under the exempted fishing permit would be inconsistent with the intent of this section or the management objectives of the FMP.

(iv) The applicant has failed to demonstrate a valid justification for the permit.

(v) The activity proposed under the exempted fishing permit could create a significant enforcement problem.

(vi) The applicant failed to make available to the public information that had been obtained under a previously issued exempted fishing permit.

(vii) The proposed activity had economic allocation as its sole purpose.

(2) In the event a permit is denied on the basis of incomplete information or design flaws, the applicant will be provided an opportunity to resubmit the application, unless a permit is denied because exempted fishing would detrimentally affect marine resources, be inconsistent with the management objectives of the FMP, create significant enforcement problems, or have economic allocation as its sole purpose.

(e) Terms and conditions. The Regional Administrator may attach terms and conditions to the exempted fishing permit that are consistent with the purpose of the experiment, including, but not limited to:

(1) The maximum amount of each species that can be harvested and landed during the term of the exempted fishing permit, including trip limitations, where appropriate.

(2) The number, sizes, names, and identification numbers of the vessels authorized to conduct fishing activities under the exempted fishing permit.

(3) The time(s) and place(s) where exempted fishing may be conducted.

(4) The type, size, and amount of gear that may be used by each vessel operated under the exempted fishing permit.

(5) The condition that observers be carried aboard vessels operated under an exempted fishing permit.

(6) Reasonable data reporting requirements.

(7) Such other conditions as may be necessary to assure compliance with the purposes of the exempted fishing permit and consistency with the FMP objectives.

(8) Provisions for public release of data obtained under the exempted fishing permit.

(f) Effectiveness. Unless otherwise specified in the exempted fishing permit or superseding notification or regulation, an exempted fishing permit is effective for no longer than 1 calendar year, but may be revoked, suspended, or modified during the calendar year. Exempted fishing permits may be renewed following the application procedures in paragraph (b) of this section.

(g) Recordkeeping and reporting requirements. In addition to the recordkeeping and reporting requirements in this section, the operator or manager must comply with requirements at § 679.5(a) through (k).

In addition to the general prohibitions specified in § 600.725 of this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:

(a) Groundfish of the GOA and BSAI—(1) Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP). (i) Fish for groundfish in the BSAI or GOA with a vessel of the United States that does not have on board a legible copy of a valid FFP issued under § 679.4.

(ii) Conduct directed fishing for Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, or pollock with pot, hook-and-line, or trawl gear from a vessel of the United States that does not have on board a legible copy of a valid FFP issued under § 679.4 and endorsed for Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, or pollock under § 679.4(b).

(2) Conduct any fishing contrary to notification of inseason action, closure, or adjustment issued under § 679.20, § 679.21, § 679.22, § 679.25.

(3) Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program. (i) Fish or process groundfish except in compliance with the terms of the Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program as provided by subpart E of this part.

(ii) Except where observer services are provided by a NMFS employee or other individuals authorized by NMFS under § 679.51(c) or § 679.51(d)(1)(ii), deploy observers in the full observer coverage category at § 679.51(a)(2) and (b)(2) without an observer provider permit issued under § 679.52(a).

(4) Pollock roe. Retain pollock roe on board a vessel in violation of § 679.20(g).

(5) Rockfish by catcher vessels using hook-and-line, jig, or pot gear.

(i) For any person, to discard rockfish from a catcher vessel required to have a Federal fisheries permit that is fishing for groundfish or IFQ or CDQ halibut using hook-and-line, jig, or pot gear in the BSAI or GOA until that fish has been landed.

(ii) Exceed the maximum commerce allowance amount established under § 679.20(j).

(6) Gear. Deploy any trawl, longline, longline pot, pot-and-line, or jig gear in an area when directed fishing for, or retention of, all groundfish by operators of vessels using that gear type is prohibited in that area, except that this paragraph (a)(6) shall not prohibit:

(i) Deployment of fixed gear, as defined in § 679.2 under “Authorized fishing gear,” by an operator of a vessel fishing for IFQ halibut during the fishing period prescribed in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to § 300.62 of this title.

(ii) Deployment of pot gear by operators of vessels fishing for crab during seasons governed by the State of Alaska.

(iii) Deployment of jig gear by operators of vessels fishing for salmon during seasons governed by the State of Alaska.

(7) Inshore/offshore. (i) Operate a vessel in the “inshore component in the GOA” as defined in § 679.2 without a valid Inshore Processing endorsement on the vessel's FFP or FPP.

(ii) Operate a vessel as a “stationary floating processor” in the “inshore component in the GOA” as defined in § 679.2, and as a catcher/processor in the BSAI during the same fishing year.

(iii) Operate a vessel as a “stationary floating processor” in the “inshore component in the GOA” as defined in § 679.2, and as an AFA mothership in the BSAI during the same fishing year.

(iv) Operate any vessel in the GOA in more than one of the three categories included in the definition of “inshore component in the GOA,” in §§ 679.2, during any fishing year.

(v) Operate any vessel in the GOA under both the “inshore component in the GOA” and the “offshore component in the GOA” definitions in §§ 679.2 during the same fishing year.

(vi) Except as provided in paragraph (k)(3)(iv) of this section, use a stationary floating processor with a GOA inshore processing endorsement to process pollock harvested in the GOA or Pacific cod harvested in the Eastern GOA in a directed fishery for those species in more than one single geographic location in the GOA during a fishing year.

(vii) Operate a vessel in the “inshore component of the GOA” as defined in § 679.2 during a calendar year if that vessel is used to directed fish for Pacific cod under the authority of a groundfish license with a Pacific cod endorsement in the regulatory area listed in Table 49 to part 679.

(viii) Use a vessel operating under the authority of a groundfish license with a Pacific cod endorsement to directed fish for Pacific cod in the Eastern GOA apportioned to the inshore component of the GOA as specified under § 679.20(a)(6) if that vessel has directed fished for Pacific cod in the Eastern GOA apportioned to the offshore component of the Eastern GOA during that calendar year.

(ix) Use a vessel operating under the authority of a groundfish license with a Pacific cod endorsement to directed fish for Pacific cod in the Eastern GOA apportioned to the offshore component of the Eastern GOA as specified under § 679.20(a)(6) if that vessel has directed fished for Pacific cod in the Eastern GOA apportioned to the inshore component of the GOA during that calendar year.

(8) Fishing in Donut Hole. Except as authorized by permit issued pursuant to the section of the Donut Hole Convention implementing legislation authorizing NMFS to issue Donut Hole fishing permits (Public Law 104-43, section 104(d)), it is unlawful for any person to:

(i) Fish in the Donut Hole from a vessel for which a Federal fisheries permit has been issued pursuant to § 679.4 during the year for which the permit was issued.

(ii) Possess within the EEZ fish harvested from the Donut Hole on board a vessel for which a Federal fisheries permit has been issued pursuant to § 679.4 during the year for which the permit was issued.

(9) Authorized fishing gear. Retain groundfish taken with other than authorized fishing gear as defined in § 679.2, except that groundfish incidentally taken by pot gear by a vessel while participating in an open crab season governed by the State of Alaska may be retained for use as unprocessed bait on board that vessel.

(10) Recordkeeping and reporting. (i) Fail to comply with or fail to ensure compliance with requirements in §§ 679.4 or 679.5.

(ii) Alter, erase, mutilate, or forge any permit or document issued under §§ 679.4 or 679.5.

(iii) Fail to submit or submit inaccurate information on, any report, application, or statement required under this part.

(iv) Intentionally submit false information on any report, application, or statement required under this part.

(11) Buying station or tender vessel—(i) Tender vessel. Use a catcher vessel or catcher/processor as a tender vessel before offloading all groundfish or groundfish product harvested or processed by that vessel.

(ii) Associated processor. Function as a tender vessel or buying station without an associated processor.

(iii) Tender vessel. Use a catcher vessel or catcher/processor to harvest groundfish while operating as a tender vessel.

(12) Prohibited species donation program. Retain or possess prohibited species, defined at § 679.21(a)(1), except as permitted to do so under the PSD program as provided by § 679.26, or as authorized by other applicable law.

(13) Halibut. With respect to halibut caught with fixed gear, as defined in § 679.2 under the definition of “Authorized fishing gear,” deployed from a vessel fishing for groundfish, except for vessels fishing for halibut as prescribed in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to § 300.62 of this title:

(i) Fail to release the halibut outboard a vessel's rails.

(ii) Release halibut caught with longline gear by any method other than—

(A) Cutting the gangion.

(B) Positioning the gaff on the hook and twisting the hook from the halibut.

(C) Straightening the hook by using the gaff to catch the bend of the hook and bracing the gaff against the vessel or any gear attached to the vessel.

(iii) Puncture the halibut with a gaff or other device.

(iv) Allow halibut caught with longline gear to contact the vessel, if such contact causes, or is capable of causing, the halibut to be stripped from the hook.

(14) Trawl gear performance standard—(i) BSAI. Except for catcher vessels in the trawl EM category, use a vessel to participate in a directed fishery for pollock using trawl gear and have on board the vessel, at any particular time, 20 or more crabs of any species that have a carapace width of more than 1.5 inches (38 mm) at the widest dimension.

(ii) GOA. Except for catcher vessels in the trawl EM category, use a vessel to participate in a directed fishery for pollock using trawl gear when directed fishing for pollock with nonpelagic trawl gear is closed and have on board the vessel, at any particular time, 20 or more crabs of any species that have a carapace width of more than 1.5 inches (38 mm) at the widest dimension.

(15) Federal processor permit (FPP). (i) Receive, purchase or arrange for purchase, discard, or process groundfish harvested in the GOA or BSAI by a shoreside processor or SFP and in the Western and Central GOA regulatory areas, including Federal reporting areas 610, 620, and 630, that does not have on site a legible copy of a valid FPP issued pursuant to § 679.4(f).

(ii) Receive, purchase or arrange for purchase, discard, or process groundfish harvested in the GOA by a CQE floating processor that does not have on site a legible copy of a valid FPP issued pursuant to § 679.4(f).

(16) Retention of groundfish bycatch species. Except for catcher vessels in the trawl EM category, exceed the maximum retainable amount established under § 679.20(e).

(17) [Reserved]

(18) Pollock, Pacific Cod, and Atka Mackerel Directed Fishing and VMS. Operate a vessel in any Federal reporting area when a vessel is authorized under § 679.4(b) to participate in the Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, or pollock directed fisheries and the vessel's authorized species and gear type is open to directed fishing, unless the vessel carries an operable NMFS-approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and complies with the requirements in § 679.28(f).

(19) Atka mackerel directed fishing in the Bering Sea reporting areas. Conduct directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Bering Sea subarea and adjacent State waters with a vessel required to be Federally permitted.

(20) Anchoring in a habitat protection area. Anchor any federally permitted vessel in any habitat protection area described in Tables 22, 23, and 26 of this part.

(21) VMS on vessels in the Aleutian Islands subarea. Operate a federally permitted vessel in the Aleutian Islands subarea without an operable VMS and without complying with the requirements at § 679.28(f).

(22) VMS for non-pelagic trawl and dredge gear vessels in the GOA. Operate a federally permitted vessel in the GOA with non-pelagic trawl or dredge gear onboard without an operable VMS and without complying with the requirements at § 679.28(f).

(b) Prohibitions specific to the GOA—(1) Southeast outside trawl closure. Use trawl gear in the GOA east of 140° W long.

(2) Catcher vessel harvest limit for pollock. (i) Except for catcher vessels in the trawl EM category, retain more than 300,000 lb (136 mt) of unprocessed pollock on board a catcher vessel issued a FFP at any time during a fishing trip as defined at § 679.2;

(ii) Except for catcher vessels in the trawl EM category, land more than 300,000 lb (136 mt) of unprocessed pollock harvested in any GOA reporting area from a catcher vessel issued a FFP to any processor or tender vessel during a calendar day as defined at § 679.2; and

(iii) Except for catcher vessels in the trawl EM category, land a cumulative amount of unprocessed pollock harvested from any GOA reporting area from a catcher vessel issued a FFP during a directed fishery that exceeds the amount in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section multiplied by the number of calendar days that occur during the time period the directed fishery is open in that reporting area.

(3) Tender vessel restrictions for pollock. (i) Operate as a tender vessel east of 157°00′ W long. for pollock harvested in the GOA.

(ii) Operate as a tender vessel west of 157°00′ W long. while retaining on board at any time more than 600,000 lb (272 mt) of unprocessed pollock.

(4) Catcher vessel restrictions. (i) Deliver Pacific cod harvested in the Western GOA or Central GOA regulatory area including Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630, to a vessel for processing in a GOA regulatory area other than the area in which the harvest occurred.

(ii) Deliver Pacific cod harvested in the Western GOA or Central GOA regulatory area, including Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630, to another vessel for processing unless the processing vessel carries an operable NMFS-approved Vessel Monitoring System that complies with the requirements in § 679.28(f).

(iii) Deliver Pacific cod harvested in the Western GOA or adjacent waters parallel directed fishery to a vessel for processing in excess of the processing limits established at § 679.20(a)(12)(iv) or (v), unless the processing vessel meets the definition of a stationary floating processor at § 679.2.

(iv) Deliver Pacific cod harvested in the Central GOA or adjacent waters parallel directed fishery in excess of the processing limits established at § 679.20(a)(12)(v), unless the processing vessel meets the definition of a stationary floating processor at § 679.2.

(v) Deliver Pacific cod harvested in the Central GOA or adjacent waters parallel directed fishery to a vessel for processing, unless that vessel is endorsed as a CQE floating processor or stationary floating processor.

(vi) Eligible catcher/processor LLP license holders electing to add a catcher vessel endorsement for the Western or Central GOA under § 679.4 (k)(10)(vii)(B) and (C) of this part are prohibited from catching and processing Pacific cod onboard a vessel under the authority of that groundfish license in the directed Pacific cod fishery in Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630.

(5) Stationary floating processor restrictions. (i) Except as provided in paragraph (k)(3)(iv) of this section, to use a stationary floating processor to process Pacific cod at more than one single geographic location in the GOA during a fishing year if the Pacific cod was harvested in a Western or Central GOA directed fishery within Federal reporting areas 610, 620, or 630.

(ii) Operate as a stationary floating processor in the GOA and as a catcher/processor in the GOA during the same calendar year.

(iii) Operate as a stationary floating processor in the GOA and as a CQE floating processor or mothership in the GOA during the same calendar year.

(6) Parallel fisheries. Use a vessel designated or required to be designated on an FFP to directed fish for Pacific cod from waters adjacent to the GOA when Pacific cod caught by that vessel is deducted from the Federal TAC specified under § 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)(2) through (6) of this part for the Western GOA and § 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(2) through (7) of this part for the Central GOA unless:

(i) That non-trawl vessel is designated on both:

(A) An LLP license issued under § 679.4(k) of this part, unless that vessel is using jig gear and exempt from the LLP license requirement under § 679.4(k)(2)(iii) of this part. Each vessel required to have an LLP license must be designated with the following endorsements:

(1) The GOA area designation adjacent to the parallel waters fishery where the harvest occurred; and

(2) A Pacific cod endorsement.

(B) An FFP issued under § 679.4(b) of this part with the following endorsements:

(1) The GOA area designation;

(2) An operational type designation;

(3) A gear type endorsement; and

(4) A Pacific cod gear type endorsement.

(ii) Or, that trawl vessel is designated on both:

(A) An LLP license issued under § 679.4(k) of this part endorsed for trawl gear with the GOA area designation adjacent to the parallel waters fishery where the harvest occurred, and

(B) An FFP issued under § 679.4(b) of this part with the following endorsements:

(1) The GOA area designation;

(2) An operational type designation;

(3) A trawl gear type endorsement; and

(4) A Pacific cod gear type endorsement.

(7) Parallel fishery closures. Use a vessel designated or required to be designated on an FFP to catch and retain Pacific cod from waters adjacent to the GOA when Pacific cod caught by that vessel is deducted from the Federal TAC specified under § 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)(2) through (6) of this part for the Western GOA and § 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(2) through (7) of this part for the Central GOA if directed fishing for Pacific cod is not open.

(8) Prohibitions specific to salmon discard in the Western and Central Reporting Areas of the GOA directed fisheries for groundfish. Fail to comply with any requirements of § 679.21(h).

(9) Conduct directed fishing for flatfish, as defined in § 679.2, with a vessel required to be federally permitted in the Central GOA Regulatory Area, as defined in Figure 3 to this part, without meeting the requirements for modified nonpelagic trawl gear specified at § 679.24(f) and illustrated in Figures 25, 26, and 27 to this part.

(c) Prohibitions specific to BSAI. (1) For vessel owners and operators subject to § 679.100(a), to use the vessel as a catcher/processor to conduct directed fishing for Pacific cod with hook-and-line gear in the BSAI or to conduct groundfish CDQ fishing.

(2) Prohibited species. Conduct any fishing contrary to a notification issued under § 679.21.

(3) Parallel Pacific cod fisheries—participation requirements. Use a vessel named or required to be named on an FFP to catch and retain Pacific cod from State of Alaska waters adjacent to the BSAI, when Pacific cod caught by that vessel is deducted from the Federal TAC specified under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(2) through (9), unless:

(i) That non-trawl vessel is designated on both:

(A) An LLP license issued under § 679.4(k), unless that vessel is using jig gear and exempt from the LLP license requirement under § 679.4(k)(2)(iii). Each vessel required to have an LLP license must be designated with the following endorsements:

(1) The BSAI area endorsement for the BSAI area adjacent to the parallel fishery where the harvest occurred; and

(2) A BSAI catcher/processor Pacific cod hook-and-line endorsement, a BSAI catcher/processor Pacific cod pot endorsement, or a BSAI Pacific cod catcher vessel endorsement if that catcher vessel is 60 feet or greater length overall; and

(B) An FFP issued under § 679.4(b) with the following endorsements:

(1) A catcher/processor or catcher vessel operation type endorsement;

(2) A BSAI area endorsement; and

(3) A pot or hook-and-line gear type endorsement.

(ii) Or, that trawl vessel is designated on both:

(A) An LLP license issued under § 679.4(k) endorsed for trawl gear with the BSAI area endorsement for the BSAI area adjacent to the parallel fishery where the harvest occurred; and

(B) An FFP issued under § 679.4(b) with the following endorsements:

(1) The BSAI area endorsement;

(2) An operational type endorsement;

(3) A trawl gear type endorsement; and

(4) A Pacific cod gear type endorsement.

(4) Parallel Pacific cod fisheries—closures. Use a vessel named or required to be named on an FFP to catch and retain Pacific cod with trawl, pot, or hook-and-line gear from State of Alaska waters adjacent to the BSAI when Pacific cod caught by that vessel is deducted from the Federal TAC specified under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A) for trawl, pot, or hook-and-line gear, if directed fishing for Pacific cod is not open for the sector to which the vessel belongs in Federal waters.

(5) Conduct directed fishing for flatfish as defined in § 679.2 with a vessel required to be federally permitted in any reporting area of the Bering Sea subarea as described in Figure 1 to this part without meeting the requirements for modified nonpelagic trawl gear specified in § 679.24(f).

(6) For a shoreside processor designated on an FPP, or a mothership designated on an FFP, that processes landings of either CDQ Pacific cod or BSAI Pacific cod harvested by a vessel using trawl gear to fail to submit a timely and complete Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report as required under § 679.5(u)(1).

(d) CDQ. (1) Participate in a Western Alaska CDQ program in violation of this part.

(2) Fail to submit, submit inaccurate information on, or intentionally submit false information on any report, application, or statement required under this part.

(3) For a CDQ group, exceed a CDQ or a halibut PSQ.

(4) Catch Accounting—(i) General. (A) For the operator of a catcher/processor using trawl gear or a mothership, to harvest or take deliveries of CDQ or PSQ species without a valid scale inspection report signed by an authorized scale inspector under § 679.28(b)(2) on board the vessel.

(B) For the operator of a vessel required to have an observer sampling station described at § 679.28(d), to harvest or take deliveries of CDQ or PSQ species without a valid observer sampling station inspection report issued by NMFS under § 679.28(d)(10) on board the vessel.

(C) For the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, or the manager or operator of a buying station or tender vessel that is required elsewhere in this part to weigh catch on a scale approved by the State of Alaska under § 679.28(c), to fail to weigh catch on a scale that meets the requirements of § 679.28(c).

(D) For the operator of a catcher/processor or a catcher vessel required to carry a level 2 observer, to combine catch from two or more CDQ groups in the same haul or set.

(E) For the operator of a catcher vessel using trawl gear or any vessel less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA that is groundfish CDQ fishing as defined at § 679.2, to discard any groundfish CDQ species or salmon PSQ before it is delivered to a processor, unless discard of the groundfish CDQ is required under other provisions or, in waters within the State of Alaska, discard is required by laws of the State of Alaska.

(F) For the operator of a vessel using trawl gear, to release CDQ catch from the codend before it is brought on board the vessel and weighed on a scale approved by NMFS under § 679.28(b) or delivered to a processor. This includes, but is not limited to, “codend dumping” and “codend bleeding.”

(G) For the operator of a catcher/processor using trawl gear or a mothership, to sort, process, or discard CDQ or PSQ species before the total catch is weighed on a scale that meets the requirements of § 679.28(b), including the daily test requirements described at § 679.28(b)(3).

(H) For the operator of a vessel fishing on behalf of a CDQ group to retain more than the maximum retainable amount of pollock established under § 679.20(e) unless the pollock harvested by that vessel accrues against a CDQ group's pollock CDQ allocation.

(ii) Fixed gear sablefish. For any person on a vessel using fixed gear that is fishing for a CDQ group with an allocation of fixed gear sablefish CDQ, to discard sablefish harvested with fixed gear unless retention of sablefish is not authorized under § 679.23(e)(4)(ii) or, in waters within the State of Alaska, discard is required by laws of the State of Alaska.

(5) Prohibited species catch—(i) Crab—(A) Zone 1. For the operator of a vessel, to use trawl gear to harvest groundfish CDQ in Zone 1 after the CDQ group's red king crab PSQ or C. bairdi Tanner crab PSQ in Zone 1 is attained.

(B) Zone 2. For the operator of a vessel, to use trawl gear to harvest groundfish CDQ in Zone 2 after the CDQ group's PSQ for C. bairdi Tanner crab in Zone 2 is attained.

(C) COBLZ. For the operator of a vessel, to use trawl gear to harvest groundfish CDQ in the C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone after the CDQ group's PSQ for C. opilio Tanner crab is attained.

(ii) Salmon—(A) Discard of salmon. For any person, to discard salmon from a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, shoreside processor, or SFP or transfer or process any salmon under the PSD Program at § 679.26, if the salmon were taken incidental to a directed fishery for pollock CDQ in the Bering Sea, until the number of salmon has been determined by an observer and the collection of scientific data or biological samples from the salmon has been completed.

(B) Non-Chinook salmon. For the operator of a vessel, to use trawl gear to harvest pollock CDQ in the Chum Salmon Savings Area between September 1 and October 14 after the CDQ group's non-Chinook salmon PSQ is attained, unless the vessel is participating in an approved IPA under § 679.21(f)(12).

(C) Chinook salmon—(1) Overages of Chinook salmon PSC allocations. For a CDQ group, to exceed a Chinook salmon PSC allocation issued under § 679.21(f) as of June 25 for the A season allocation and as of December 1 for the B season allocation.

(2) For the operator of a catcher vessel or catcher/processor, to start a new fishing trip for pollock CDQ in the BS in the A season or in the B season, if the CDQ group for which the vessel is fishing has exceeded its Chinook salmon PSC allocation issued under § 679.21(f) for that season.

(3) For the operator of a catcher/processor or mothership, to catch or process pollock CDQ in the BS without complying with the applicable requirements of § 679.28(j).

(4) For the operator of a catcher/processor or a mothership, to begin sorting catch from a haul from a directed fishery for pollock CDQ in the BS before the observer has completed counting the salmon and collecting scientific data or biological samples from the previous haul.

(5) For the operator of a catcher vessel delivering pollock CDQ catch to a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor to:

(i) Deliver pollock CDQ to a processor that does not have a catch monitoring and control plan approved under § 679.28(g).

(ii) Handle, sort, or discard catch without notifying the observer 15 minutes prior to handling, sorting, or discarding catch as described in § 679.21(f)(15)(ii)(B)(2).

(iii) Fail to secure catch after the completion of catch handling and the collection of scientific data and biological samples as described in § 679.21(f)(15)(ii)(B)(3).

(6) For the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, to begin sorting a pollock CDQ offload before the observer has completed the count of salmon and the collection of scientific data or biological samples from the previous offload.

(6) For a CDQ group, exceed a seasonal allowance of Pacific cod under § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).

(7) For a CDQ group, exceed a seasonal allowance of Atka mackerel under § 679.20(a)(8)(ii).

(8) Fail to submit a timely and complete CDQ cost recovery fee submission form and fee as required under § 679.33.

(9) For an operator of a catcher vessel greater than 32 ft (9.8 m) LOA and less than or equal to 46 ft (14.0 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear and that is registered by a CDQ group under § 679.5(m), to conduct groundfish CDQ fishing without a legible copy of the LLP exemption letter issued to a CDQ group for that vessel on board the vessel.

(10) For a CDQ group representative, to remove a vessel from the CDQ vessel registration list under § 679.5(m)(4) without first providing notice to the operator of the registered vessel that the vessel is being removed from the CDQ vessel registration list or when the vessel operator is groundfish CDQ fishing.

(e) Halibut Deck Sorting. (1) Conduct halibut deck sorting without notifying the observer at least 15 minutes prior to bringing fish onboard as described in § 679.102 (e)(2).

(2) For any haul for which the notification at § 679.102 (e)(2) is provided, allow fish to be spilled from the codend without an observer being present to monitor halibut deck sorting.

(3) Sort halibut from the catch prior to weighing except in compliance with requirements at § 679.102.

(4) Sort halibut on deck without an observer present to monitor halibut deck sorting.

(5) Discard halibut sorted on deck prior to the observer's completion of data collection for each halibut.

(6) Sort or discard any species other than halibut during halibut deck sorting.

(7) Conduct halibut deck sorting past the time limit set by NMFS in the vessel's Observer Sampling Station Inspection Report.

(8) Conduct halibut deck sorting without complying with the observer deck sampling station requirements at § 679.28(d)(9).

(9) Fail to have an approved Deck Safety Plan before conducting halibut deck sorting.

(10) Fail to notify the Observer Program for purposes of the pre-cruise meeting when required by § 679.102 (c).

(11) Weigh catch on a NMFS-approved scale that complies with the requirements at § 679.28(b) when halibut deck sorting unless three or more observers are present on the vessel and an observer has been notified and is available to complete data collection duties in the factory.

(12) Sort halibut without a video monitoring system meeting requirements at § 679.28(l).

(13) Fail to comply with any other requirement or restriction specified in this part or violate any provision of this part.

(f) IFQ fisheries. (1) Fail to submit, or submit inaccurate information on, any report, application, or statement required under this part.

(2) Intentionally submit false information on any report, application, or statement required under this part.

(3)(i) Halibut. (A) Retain halibut caught with fixed gear without a valid IFQ permit, and if using a hired master, without an IFQ hired master permit in the name of an individual aboard.

(B) Retain halibut caught with fixed gear without a valid CDQ permit and without a CDQ hired master permit in the name of an individual aboard.

(C) Use fixed gear to retain RFQ halibut.

(ii) Sablefish. Retain sablefish caught with fixed gear without a valid IFQ permit, and if using a hired master, without an IFQ hired master permit in the name of an individual aboard, unless fishing on behalf of a CDQ group.

(4) Except as provided in § 679.40(d), retain IFQ or CDQ halibut or IFQ or CDQ sablefish on a vessel in excess of the total amount of unharvested IFQ or CDQ, applicable to the vessel category and IFQ or CDQ regulatory area(s) in which the vessel is deploying fixed gear, and that is currently held by all IFQ or CDQ permit holders aboard the vessel, unless the vessel has an observer aboard under subpart E of this part or the vessel participates in the EM selection pool and complies with the requirements at § 679.51(f), and maintains the applicable daily fishing log prescribed in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to § 300.62 of this title and § 679.5.

(5) Possess, buy, sell, or transport IFQ or CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish harvested or landed in violation of any provision of this part.

(6) Landing. (i) IFQ permit or IFQ hired master permit. Make an IFQ landing without an IFQ permit or IFQ hired master permit, as appropriate, in the name of the individual making the landing.

(ii) Hired master, CDQ halibut. Make a CDQ halibut landing without a CDQ hired master permit listing the name of the hired master.

(7) Possess on a vessel or land IFQ sablefish concurrently with non-IFQ sablefish, except that CDQ sablefish may be possessed on a vessel and landed concurrently with IFQ sablefish.

(8) Discard:

(i) In the GOA:

(A) [Reserved]

(B) Pacific cod that are taken when IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish are on board unless Pacific cod are required to be discarded under subpart B of this part, or Pacific cod are not authorized to be retained under subpart A of this part.

(ii) In the BSAI:

(A) [Reserved]

(B) Pacific cod that are taken when IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish are on board according to the following table:

(iii) In the waters within the State of Alaska:

(A) Rockfish that are taken when IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish are on board unless rockfish are required to be discarded by the laws of the State of Alaska.

(B) Pacific cod that are taken when IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish are on board unless Pacific cod are required to be discarded by the laws of the State of Alaska.

(9) Harvest on any vessel more IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish than are authorized under § 679.42.

(10) Make an IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut landing other than directly to (or by) a registered buyer.

(11) Discard halibut or sablefish caught with fixed gear from any catcher vessel when any IFQ permit holder aboard holds unused halibut or sablefish IFQ for that vessel category and the IFQ regulatory area in which the vessel is operating, unless:

(i) Discard of halibut is required as prescribed in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to § 300.62 of chapter III of this title;

(ii) Discard of sablefish is required under § 679.20 or, in waters within the State of Alaska, discard of sablefish is required under laws of the State of Alaska; or

(iii) Discard of halibut or sablefish is required under other provisions.

(12) Commence an IFQ landing without a Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL), before the date and time stated on the PNOL, or more than 2 hours after the date and time stated on the PNOL, except as provided in § 679.5(l)(1).

(13) [Reserved]

(14) Violate any other provision under this part.

(15) Hire a master to fish for IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish that is derived from QS held by a CQE.

(16) Process IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish onboard a vessel on which a person is using IFQ derived from QS held by a CQE.

(17) Deploy, conduct fishing with, or retrieve longline pot gear in the GOA before the start or after the end of the IFQ sablefish fishing period specified in § 679.23(g)(1).

(18) Deploy, conduct fishing with, retrieve, or retain IFQ sablefish or IFQ halibut from longline pot gear in the GOA:

(i) In excess of the pot limits specified in § 679.42(l)(5)(ii); or

(ii) [Reserved]

(19) [Reserved]

(20) Deploy longline pot gear to fish IFQ sablefish in the GOA without marking the gear in accordance with § 679.24(a).

(21) Fail to redeploy or remove from the fishing grounds all deployed longline pot gear that is assigned to, and used by, a catcher vessel within five days of deploying the gear to fish IFQ sablefish in the Southeast Outside District of the GOA in accordance with § 679.42(l)(5)(iii)(A).

(22) Fail to redeploy or remove from the fishing grounds all deployed longline pot gear that is assigned to, and used by, a catcher/processor within five days of deploying the gear to fish IFQ sablefish in the Southeast Outside District of the GOA in accordance with § 679.42(l)(5)(iii)(B).

(23) Fail to redeploy or remove from the fishing grounds all deployed longline pot gear that is assigned to, and used by, a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor within five days of deploying the gear to fish IFQ sablefish in the West Yakutat District of the GOA, and within seven days of deploying the gear to fish IFQ sablefish in the Central GOA regulatory area, in accordance with § 679.42(l)(5)(iii)(C) and (E).

(24) Fail to redeploy or remove from the fishing grounds all deployed longline pot gear that is assigned to, and used by, a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor within seven days of deploying the gear to fish IFQ sablefish in the Western GOA regulatory area in accordance with § 679.42(l)(5)(iii)(D).

(25) Operate a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor using longline pot gear to fish IFQ sablefish or IFQ halibut in the GOA and fail to use functioning VMS equipment as required in § 679.42(k)(2).

(26) Operate a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor using pot gear to fish for IFQ or CDQ halibut or IFQ or CDQ sablefish in the BSAI and fail to use functioning VMS equipment as required in § 679.42(m).

(g) North Pacific Observer Program—Observers. (1) Forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, sexually harass, bribe, or interfere with an observer.

(2) Interfere with or bias the sampling procedure employed by an observer, including physical, mechanical, or other sorting or discarding of catch before sampling.

(3) Tamper with, destroy, or discard an observer's collected samples, equipment, records, photographic film, papers, or personal effects without the express consent of the observer.

(4) Prohibit or bar by command, impediment, threat, coercion, or by refusal of reasonable assistance, an observer from collecting samples, conducting product recovery rate determinations, making observations, or otherwise performing the observer's duties.

(5) Harass an observer by conduct that has sexual connotations, has the purpose or effect of interfering with the observer's work performance, or otherwise creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. In determining whether conduct constitutes harassment, the totality of the circumstances, including the nature of the conduct and the context in which it occurred, will be considered. The determination of the legality of a particular action will be made from the facts on a case-by-case basis.

(6) Fish for or process fish without observer coverage required under subpart E of this part.

(7) Embark on a fishing trip to directed fish for groundfish or to fish for halibut with hook-and-line gear without carrying an observer if the fishing trip is selected for observer coverage per § 679.51(a)(1)(ii)(C)(2), or the vessel is selected for observer coverage per § 679.51(a)(1)(ii)(D).

(8) Require, pressure, coerce, or threaten an observer to perform duties normally performed by crew members, including, but not limited to, cooking, washing dishes, standing watch, vessel maintenance, assisting with the setting or retrieval of gear, or any duties associated with the processing of fish, from sorting the catch to the storage of the finished product.

(h) [Reserved]

(i) License Limitation Program—(1) Number of licenses. (i) Hold more than 10 groundfish licenses in the name of that person at any time, except as provided in paragraphs (i)(1)(iii) and (i)(1)(v) of this section;

(ii) Hold more than five crab species licenses in the name of that person at any time, except as provided in paragraph (i)(1)(iii) of this section; or

(iii) Hold more licenses than allowed in paragraphs (i)(1)(i) and (i)(1)(ii) of this section unless those licenses were issued to that person in the initial distribution of licenses. Any person who receives in the initial distribution more licenses than allowed in paragraphs (i)(1)(i) and (i)(1)(ii) of this section shall have no transfer applications for receipt of additional licenses approved until the number of licenses in the name of that person is less than the numbers specified in paragraphs (i)(1)(i) and (i)(1)(ii) of this section; furthermore, when a person becomes eligible to receive licenses by transfer through the provisions of this paragraph, that person is subject to the provisions in paragraphs (i)(1)(i) and (i)(1)(ii) of this section;

(iv) Hold more than two scallop licenses in the name of that person at any time.

(v) The CQE representing the City of Sand Point may not hold more than 14 groundfish licenses.

(2) Conduct directed fishing for license limitation groundfish without a legible copy of a valid groundfish license, except as provided in § 679.4(k)(2);

(3) Conduct directed fishing for LLP crab species without a legible copy of a valid crab license, except as provided in § 679.4(k)(2);

(4) Process license limitation groundfish on board a vessel without a legible copy of a valid groundfish license with a catcher/processor designation;

(5) Process LLP crab species on board a vessel without a legible copy of a valid crab species LLP license with a catcher/processor designation;

(6) Use a vessel to fish for LLP groundfish or crab species, or allow a vessel to be used to fish for LLP groundfish or crab species, that has an LOA that exceeds the MLOA specified on the license that authorizes fishing for LLP groundfish or crab species, except if the person is using the vessel to fish for LLP groundfish in the Bering Sea subarea or the Aleutian Islands subarea pursuant to an LLP license that specifies an exemption from the MLOA on the LLP license.

(7) Lease a groundfish, crab species, or scallop license; or

(8) Catch and retain scallops:

(i) Without a copy of a valid scallop license on board;

(ii) Using a vessel with a MLOA greater than that specified on the scallop license; or

(iii) Using dredge gear contrary to a gear limitation specified on the scallop license.

(9) Use a vessel to fish for LLP groundfish or crab species, or allow a vessel to be used to fish for LLP groundfish or crab species, other than the vessel named on the license that authorizes fishing for LLP groundfish or crab species.

(10) Operate a vessel under the authority of an LLP license issued to a CQE to directed fish for Pacific cod in the GOA if the person specified for that groundfish license in the annual CQE authorization letter, or any subsequent amendment to that authorization letter, is not onboard the vessel.

(11) Prohibitions specific to the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector yellowfin sole directed fishery. Deliver yellowfin sole harvested with trawl gear in the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector yellowfin sole directed fishery to a mothership without a legible copy of a valid groundfish LLP license with a BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector yellowfin sole directed fishery endorsement, except as provided in § 679.4(k)(2).

(12) Prohibitions specific to directed fishing in the BSAI non-CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel fishery as specified at § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A). Use a catcher/processor to receive and process Pacific cod harvested and delivered by a catcher vessel directed fishing in the BSAI non-CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel fishery without a legible copy on board of a valid groundfish LLP license with Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands area, catcher/processor operation, and BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsements.

(j) North Pacific Observer Program—Electronic Monitoring.—(1) General.

(i) Fish without an EM system when a vessel is required to carry an EM system under § 679.51.

(ii) Fish with an EM system without a copy of a valid NMFS-approved VMP on board when directed fishing in a fishery subject to EM coverage.

(iii) Fail to comply with a NMFS-approved VMP when directed fishing in a fishery subject to EM coverage.

(iv) Fail to ensure an EM system is functioning prior to departing port on a fishing trip as specified at § 679.51(f)(5)(vi)(A).

(v) Fail to ensure an EM system is functional prior to departing on a fishing trip as specified at § 679.51(g)(3)(v).

(vi) Depart on a fishing trip without a functional EM system, per the VMP, unless approved to do so by NMFS, after the procedures at § 679.51(f)(5)(vi)(A)(1), or § 679.51(g), have been followed.

(vii) Fail to follow procedures related to EM system malfunctions as described at § 679.51(f)(5)(vi)(B) or § 679.51(g) prior to deploying each set of gear on a fishing trip selected for EM coverage.

(viii) Fail to make the EM system, associated equipment, logbooks, and other records available for inspection upon request by NMFS, OLE, or other NMFS-authorized officer.

(ix) Fail to submit EM data as specified under § 679.51(f)(5)(vii) or § 679.51(g).

(x) Tamper with, bias, disconnect, damage, destroy, alter, or in any other way distort, render useless, inoperative, ineffective, or inaccurate any component of the EM system, associated equipment, or data recorded by the EM system when the vessel is directed fishing in a fishery subject to EM coverage, unless the vessel operator is directed to make changes to the EM system by NMFS, the EM service provider, or as directed in the troubleshooting guide of the VMP.

(xi) Assault, impede, intimidate, harass, sexually harass, bribe, or interfere with an EM service provider.

(xii) Interfere with or bias the sampling procedure employed in the EM selection pool, including either mechanically or manually sorting or discarding catch outside of the camera view or inconsistent with the NMFS-approved VMP.

(xiii) Fail to meet the vessel owner and operator responsibilities when using an EM system as specified at § 679.51(f)(5) or § 679.51(g)(5).

(2) Trawl EM category—(i) Catcher vessels in the trawl EM category. (A) Use a catcher vessel in the partial coverage trawl EM category to fish without being party to an approved trawl EM incentive plan agreement established under § 679.57;

(B) Use a catcher vessel in the trawl EM category to discard catch from the codend before it is brought on board the vessel unless required to maintain the safety and stability of the vessel;

(C) Use a catcher vessel in the trawl EM category to deploy a nonpelagic trawl;

(D) Use a catcher vessel in the trawl EM category to land catch to a tender vessel that is not in the trawl EM category or does not have a NMFS-approved VMP;

(E) Use a catcher vessel in the trawl EM category to land catch to a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor that does not have a NMFS-approved CMCP; or

(F) Use a catcher vessel in the trawl EM category to deploy trawl gear in an area that is closed, for any reason, to directed fishing for pollock.

(ii) Shoreside processors and stationary floating processors. (A) Receive any delivery from a vessel in the trawl EM category without being issued and following a NMFS-approved Catch Monitoring Control Plan as described in § 679.28(g).

(B) Store any non-salmon species in a designated salmon storage container as described in a NMFS-approved Catch Monitoring Control Plan per § 679.28(g).

(C) Allow any salmon species to be placed into any location other than the designated salmon storage container described in a NMFS-approved Catch Monitoring Control Plan per § 679.28(g) at a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor.

(D) Begin sorting a trawl EM category offload from the Bering Sea or CDQ pollock fisheries before an observer has completed the count of all salmon and the collection of scientific data and biological samples from the previous offload.

(E) Continue to sort trawl EM category catch from the Bering Sea or CDQ pollock fisheries if the salmon storage container described in a NMFS-approved Catch Monitoring Control Plan per § 679.28(g) is full.

(F) Allow any PSC harvested or delivered by a vessel in the trawl EM category to be sold, purchased, bartered, or traded.

(iii) Tender vessels. (A) Operate a tender vessel in the trawl EM category and receive a delivery from a catcher vessel in the trawl EM category and a catcher vessel not in the trawl EM category during the same fishing trip.

(B) Operate a tender vessel in the trawl EM category without an approved VMP and receive a delivery from a catcher vessel in the trawl EM category.

(k) Prohibitions specific to the AFA. It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:

(1) Catcher/processors—(i) Permit requirement. Use a catcher/processor to engage in directed fishing for non-CDQ BSAI pollock without a valid AFA catcher/processor permit on board the vessel.

(ii) Fishing in the GOA. Use a listed AFA catcher/processor or a catcher/processor designated on a listed AFA catcher/processor permit to harvest any species of fish in the GOA.

(iii) Processing BSAI crab. Use a listed AFA catcher/processor or a catcher/processor designated on a listed AFA catcher/processor permit to process any crab species harvested in the BSAI.

(iv) Processing GOA groundfish. (A) Use a listed AFA catcher/processor or a catcher/processor designated on a listed AFA catcher/processor permit to process any pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.

(B) Use a listed AFA catcher/processor or a catcher/processor designated on a listed AFA catcher/processor permit as a stationary floating processor for Pacific cod in the GOA and a catcher/processor in the GOA during the same year.

(v) Directed fishing after a sideboard closure. Use a listed AFA catcher/processor or a catcher/processor designated on a listed AFA catcher/processor permit to engage in directed fishing for a groundfish species or species group in the BSAI after the Regional Administrator has issued an AFA catcher/processor sideboard directed fishing closure for that groundfish species or species group under §§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), 679.21(b)(4)(iii), or 679.21(e)(3)(v).

(vi) Catch weighing—(A) Listed AFA catcher/processors and catcher/processors designated on listed AFA catcher/processor permits. Process any groundfish that was not weighed on a NMFS-approved scale that complies with the requirements of § 679.28(b). Catch may not be sorted before it is weighed and each haul must be sampled by an observer for species composition.

(B) Unlisted AFA catcher/processors and catcher/processors designated on unlisted AFA catcher/processor permits. Process groundfish harvested in the BSAI pollock fishery that was not weighed on a NMFS-approved scale that complies with the requirements of § 679.28(b). Catch may not be sorted before it is weighed and each haul must be sampled by an observer for species composition.

(vii) Observer sampling station—(A) Listed AFA catcher/processors and catcher/processors designated on listed AFA catcher/processor permits. Process any groundfish without an observer sampling station as described at § 679.28(d). A valid observer sampling station inspection report must be on board at all times when an observer sampling station is required.

(B) Unlisted AFA catcher/processors and catcher/processors designated on unlisted AFA catcher/processor permits. Process groundfish harvested in the BSAI pollock fishery without an observer sampling station as described at § 679.28(d). A valid observer sampling station inspection report must be on board at all times when an observer sampling station is required.

(2) Motherships—(i) Permit requirement. Use a mothership to process pollock harvested in a non-CDQ directed fishery for pollock in the BSAI without a valid AFA permit on board the mothership.

(ii) Processing GOA groundfish. Use an AFA mothership as a stationary floating processor for Pacific cod in the GOA and a mothership in the GOA during the same year.

(iii) Catch weighing. Process any groundfish that was not weighed on a NMFS-approved scale that complies with the requirements of § 679.28(b). Catch may not be sorted before it is weighed and each delivery must be sampled by an observer for species composition.

(iv) Observer sampling station. Process any groundfish without an observer sampling station as described at § 679.28(d). A valid observer sampling station inspection report must be on board at all times when an observer sampling station is required.

(3) AFA inshore processors—(i) Permit requirement. Use a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor to process pollock harvested in a non-CDQ directed fishery for pollock in the BS without a valid AFA inshore processor permit at the facility or on board vessel.

(ii) Cooperative processing endorsement. Use a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor required to have an AFA inshore processor permit to process groundfish harvested by a fishery cooperative formed under § 679.62 unless the AFA inshore processor permit contains a valid cooperative pollock processing endorsement.

(iii) [Reserved]

(iv) Single geographic location requirement. Use an AFA inshore processor to process pollock harvested in the BS directed pollock fishery at a location other than the single geographic location defined as follows:

(A) Shoreside processors. The physical location at which the land-based shoreside processor first processed BS pollock harvested in the BS directed pollock fishery during a fishing year.

(B) Stationary floating processor (SFP). A geographic position within State of Alaska waters of the BS subarea and that is within a 5 nm radius of the latitude and longitude reported in the check-in and check-out reports at § 679.5(h)(5)(ix)(B). An AFA SFP cannot change its single geographic location more than four times within State of Alaska waters in the BS subarea to process pollock harvested in a BS subarea directed pollock fishery during a fishing year and cannot use more than one single geographic location during a reporting week.

(v) Catch weighing. Process any groundfish that was not weighed on a scale approved by the State of Alaska and meeting the requirements specified in § 679.28(c).

(vi) Catch monitoring and control plan (CMCP). (A) Take deliveries or process groundfish delivered by a vessel engaged in directed fishing for BSAI pollock without following an approved CMCP as described at § 679.28(g). A copy of the CMCP must be maintained on the premises and made available to authorized officers or NMFS-authorized personnel upon request.

(B) Allow sorting of fish at any location in the processing plant other than those identified in the CMCP under § 678.28(g)(7).

(C) Allow salmon of any species to pass beyond the last point where sorting of fish occurs, as identified in the scale drawing of the processing plant in the approved CMCP.

(vii) Restrictions for GOA Pacific cod and GOA pollock. Use an AFA SFP to process GOA pollock or GOA Pacific cod in any location other than the location at which either GOA pollock or GOA Pacific cod were first processed by that SFP in the year 2002.

(4) Catcher vessels—(i) Permit requirement. Use a catcher vessel to engage in directed fishing for non-CDQ BS pollock for delivery to any AFA processing sector (catcher/processor, mothership, or inshore) unless the vessel has a valid AFA catcher vessel permit on board that includes an endorsement for the sector of the BS pollock fishery in which the vessel is participating.

(ii) [Reserved]

(iii) Groundfish sideboard closures. Use an AFA catcher vessel to engage in directed fishing for a groundfish species or species group in the BSAI or GOA after the Regional Administrator has issued an AFA catcher vessel sideboard directed fishing closure for that groundfish species or species group under §§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), 679.21(b)(4)(iii), or 679.21(e)(3)(iv), if the vessel's AFA permit does not contain a sideboard exemption for that groundfish species or species group.

(5) AFA inshore fishery cooperatives—(i) Overages by vessel. Use an AFA catcher vessel listed on an AFA inshore cooperative fishing permit, or under contract to a fishery cooperative under § 679.62(c), to harvest non-CDQ BS pollock in excess of the fishery cooperative's annual allocation of pollock specified under § 679.62.

(ii) Overages by fishery cooperative. An inshore pollock fishery cooperative is prohibited from exceeding its annual allocation of BS pollock TAC.

(6) Excessive harvesting shares. It is unlawful for an AFA entity or a CDQ group to harvest, through a fishery cooperative or otherwise, an amount of BS pollock that exceeds the 17.5 percent excessive share limit specified under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6). A CDQ group's harvest of BS pollock will be calculated through its proportional ownership of individuals, corporations, or other business concerns that harvest BS pollock. The owners and operators of the individual vessels comprising the AFA entity or CDQ group that harvest BS pollock will be held jointly and severally liable for exceeding the excessive harvesting share limit.

(7) Excessive processing shares. It is unlawful for an AFA entity or a CDQ group to process an amount of BS pollock that exceeds the 30-percent excessive share limit specified under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7). The amount of BS pollock processed by a CDQ group will be calculated through its proportional ownership of individuals, corporations, or other business concerns that process BS pollock. The owners and operators of the individual processors comprising the AFA entity or CDQ group that process BS pollock will be held jointly and severally liable for exceeding the excessive processing share limit.

(8) Salmon PSC—(i) Discard of salmon. For any person, to discard any salmon from a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, or inshore processor, or transfer or process any salmon under the PSD Program at § 679.26, if the salmon were taken incidental to a directed fishery for pollock in the BS before the number of salmon has been determined by an observer and the collection of scientific data or biological samples from the salmon has been completed.

(ii) Catcher/processors and motherships. For the operator of a catcher/processor or a mothership, to begin sorting catch from a haul from a directed fishery for pollock in the BS before the observer has completed counting the salmon and collecting scientific data or biological samples from the previous haul.

(iii) Shoreside processors and stationary floating processors. For the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor to begin sorting a new BS pollock offload before the observer has completed the count of salmon and the collection of scientific data or biological samples from the previous offload.

(iv) Catcher vessels. (A) For the operator of a catcher vessel, to handle, sort, or discard catch without notifying the observer 15 minutes prior to handling, sorting, or discarding catch as described in § 679.21(f)(15)(ii)(B)(2).

(B) For the operator of a catcher vessel to fail to secure catch after the completion of catch handling and the collection of scientific data and biological samples as described in § 679.21(f)(15)(ii)(B)(3).

(v) Overages of Chinook salmon PSC allocations—(A) For an inshore cooperative, the entity representing the AFA catcher/processor sector, or the entity representing the AFA mothership sector, to exceed a Chinook salmon PSC allocation issued under § 679.21(f) as of June 25 for the A season allocation and as of December 1 for the B season allocation.

(B) For a catcher vessel or catcher/processor, to start a fishing trip for pollock in the BS in the A season or in the B season if the vessel is fishing under a transferable Chinook salmon PSC allocation issued to an inshore cooperative, the entity representing the AFA catcher/processor sector, or the entity representing the AFA mothership sector under § 679.21(f) and the inshore cooperative or entity has exceeded its Chinook salmon PSC allocation for that season.

(9) Fail to submit a timely and complete AFA cost recovery fee submission form and fee as required under § 679.66.

(l) Prohibitions specific to the AI directed pollock fishery—(1) Catcher/processors. (i) Use a catcher/processor vessel to harvest pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery or process pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery without a copy of NMFS' approval letter on board pursuant to § 679.4(m).

(ii) Process any pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery without complying with catch weighing and observer sampling station requirements set forth at paragraphs (k)(1)(vi) and (k)(1)(vii) of this section, respectively.

(iii) Use a catcher/processor to harvest pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery or process pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery without a valid AFA catcher/processor permit on board the vessel.

(2) Motherships. (i) Use a mothership to process pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery without a copy of NMFS' approval letter on board pursuant to § 679.4(m).

(ii) Process any pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery without complying with catch weighing and observer sampling station requirements set forth at paragraphs (k)(2)(iii) and (k)(2)(iv) of this section, respectively.

(iii) Use a mothership to process pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery without a valid AFA mothership permit on board the vessel.

(3) Shoreside and stationary floating processors. (i) Use a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor to process pollock harvested in the in AI directed pollock fishery without a copy of NMFS' approval letter on location pursuant to § 679.4(m).

(ii) Process any pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery without complying with catch weighing requirements set forth at paragraph (k)(3)(v) of this section.

(iii) Take deliveries of pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery or process pollock harvested in the AI pollock fishery without following an approved CMCP as described in § 679.28(g). A copy of the CMCP must be maintained on the premises and made available to authorized officers or NMFS-authorized personnel upon request.

(4) Catcher vessels. (i) Use a catcher vessel to harvest pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery without a copy of NMFS' approval letter on board pursuant to § 679.4(m).

(ii) Have on board at any one time pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery and pollock harvested from either the Bering Sea subarea or the Gulf of Alaska.

(iii) Use a catcher vessel to deliver pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery:

(A) To a shoreside or stationary floating processor that does not have an approved CMCP pursuant to § 679.28(g) and is not approved by NMFS to process pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery, or

(B) To a catcher/processor or mothership that is not approved by NMFS to process pollock harvested in the AI directed pollock fishery.

(iv) Use a catcher vessel greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA to harvest pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery unless the vessel has a valid AFA catcher vessel permit on board.

(5) AI directed pollock fishery overages. (i) Use a catcher vessel selected by the Aleut Corporation and approved by NMFS to participate in the AI directed pollock fishery under § 679.4(m) to harvest pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery in excess of the Aleut Corporation's annual or seasonal allocations of pollock or in excess of the vessel allocation specified under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii).

(ii) The Aleut Corporation is prohibited from exceeding its annual and seasonal allocations of AI pollock TAC or from exceeding the allocation to vessels, as specified in § 679.20(a)(5)(iii).

(6) Fail to submit a timely and complete Aleutian Islands pollock cost recovery fee submission form and fee as required under § 679.67.

(m) PCTC Program—(1) General. (i) Name an LLP license in more than one Application for PCTC Program CQ in a fishing year.

(ii) Use a vessel to catch or receive a PCTC Program cooperative's Pacific cod when that vessel was not listed on the Application for PCTC Program CQ.

(iii) Fail to comply with any other requirement or restriction specified in this part or violate any provision of this part.

(2) Vessel owners and operators participating in the PCTC Program. (i) Fail to follow the catch monitoring requirements detailed at § 679.134.

(ii) Operate a vessel that is subject to a sideboard limit detailed at § 679.133, as applicable, and fail to follow the catch monitoring requirements detailed at § 679.134.

(iii) Exceed the ownership or use caps specified at § 679.133.

(3) VMS. (i) Operate a vessel in a PCTC Program cooperative and fail to use functioning VMS equipment as described at § 679.134.

(ii) Operate a vessel that is subject to a sideboard limit detailed at § 679.133 and fail to use functioning VMS equipment as described at § 679.134.

(4) PCTC Program processors. (i) Take deliveries of, or process, PCTC Program Pacific cod harvested by a catcher vessel fishing under the authority of a CQ permit unless the processor has an FPP or FFP and LLP license with a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement.

(ii) For the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor to process any groundfish delivered by a catcher vessel fishing under the authority of a CQ permit not weighed on a scale approved by the State of Alaska.

(iii) Fail to submit a timely and complete Pacific cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report as required under § 679.5(u)(1).

(iv) Use a catcher/processor designated on an LLP license with a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement to sort, process, or discard any species, except halibut sorted on deck by vessels participating in halibut deck sorting described at § 679.102, before the total catch is weighed on a scale that meets the requirements of § 679.28(b).

(v) Use a catcher/processor designated on an LLP license with a BSAI Pacific cod trawl mothership endorsement to process Pacific cod in excess of the at-sea processing sideboard limit defined at § 679.133(b)(2) and assigned to the LLP license.

(vi) Process an amount of Pacific cod that exceeds use caps specified at § 679.133.

(5) PCTC Program cooperatives. (i) Harvest PCTC Program Pacific cod, use halibut PSC, or use crab PSC assigned to a PCTC Program cooperative in the BSAI without having on board a legible copy of valid CQ permit.

(ii) Begin a fishing trip for PCTC Program Pacific cod with any vessel named in a PCTC Program cooperative if the total amount of unharvested PCTC Program Pacific cod on a CQ permit currently held by that cooperative is zero or less.

(iii) Have a negative balance in a CQ account after the end of the calendar year for which a CQ permit was issued.

(iv) Fail to submit a PCTC Program cost recovery fee payment as required under § 679.135.

(n) Rockfish Program—(1) General. (i) Use an LLP license assigned to a rockfish cooperative in any rockfish cooperative other than the rockfish cooperative to which that LLP license was initially assigned for that fishing year.

(ii) Use an LLP license that was excluded from the Rockfish Program or that opted out of the Rockfish Program in any rockfish cooperative for that calendar year.

(iii) Operate a vessel assigned to a rockfish cooperative in any rockfish cooperative other than the rockfish cooperative to which that vessel was initially assigned for that fishing year.

(2) Vessels operators participating in the Rockfish Program. (i) Operate a vessel that is assigned to a rockfish cooperative and fishing under a CQ permit and fail to follow the catch monitoring requirements detailed in § 679.84(c) through (e).

(ii) Operate a vessel that is subject to a sideboard limit detailed in § 679.82(e), as applicable, and fail to follow the catch monitoring requirements detailed in § 679.84(c) from July 1 until July 31, if that vessel is harvesting fish in the West Yakutat District, Central GOA, or Western GOA management areas.

(iii) Operate a catcher/processor opt-out vessel, under § 679.81(e)(2), that is subject to sideboard provisions detailed in § 679.82(e) and (f), as applicable, and fail to follow the catch monitoring requirements detailed in § 679.84(d) from July 1 until July 31, if that vessel is harvesting fish in the West Yakutat District, Central GOA, or Western GOA management areas.

(3) VMS. (i) Operate a vessel that is assigned to a rockfish cooperative and fail to use functioning VMS equipment as described at § 679.28(f) at all times when operating in a reporting area off Alaska from April 1:

(A) Until November 15; or

(B) Until that rockfish cooperative has submitted a rockfish cooperative termination of fishing declaration that has been approved by NMFS.

(ii) Operate a vessel that is subject to a sideboard limit detailed in § 679.82(e) and fail to use functioning VMS equipment as described in § 679.28(f) at all times when operating in a reporting area off Alaska from July 1 until July 31.

(4) Catcher/processor vessels that opt-out. Operate a vessel that has opted-out of participating in a rockfish cooperative to directed fish for northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, or dusky rockfish in the Central GOA.

(5) Rockfish processors. (i) Take deliveries of, or process, groundfish harvested by a catcher vessel fishing under the authority of a rockfish CQ permit unless operating as a shoreside processor.

(ii) Process any groundfish delivered by a catcher vessel fishing under the authority of a CQ permit not weighed on a scale approved by the State of Alaska. The scale must meet the requirements specified in § 679.28(c).

(iii) Take deliveries of, or process, groundfish caught by a vessel fishing under the authority of a rockfish CQ permit without following an approved CMCP as described in § 679.28(g). A copy of the CMCP must be maintained at the facility and made available to authorized officers or NMFS-authorized personnel upon request.

(iv) Take deliveries of, or process, groundfish harvested by a catcher vessel fishing under the authority of a rockfish CQ permit outside of the geographic boundaries of the City of Kodiak as those boundaries are established by the State of Alaska on December 27, 2011.

(v) Fail to submit a timely and complete Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report as required under § 679.5(r)(10)

(6) Rockfish cooperatives. (i) Fail to retain any rockfish primary species or rockfish secondary species caught by a vessel when that vessel is fishing under the authority of a CQ permit.

(ii) Harvest rockfish primary species, rockfish secondary species, or use halibut PSC assigned to a rockfish cooperative in the Central GOA without a valid CQ permit.

(iii) Begin a fishing trip for any Rockfish Program species with any vessel assigned to a rockfish cooperative if the total amount of unharvested CQ that is currently held by that rockfish cooperative is zero or less for any species for which CQ is assigned.

(iv) Exceed a rockfish sideboard limit assigned to a rockfish cooperative in the catcher/processor sector.

(v) Operate a vessel assigned to a rockfish cooperative to fish under a CQ permit unless the rockfish cooperative has notified NMFS that the vessel is fishing under a CQ permit as described under § 679.5(r)(8).

(vi) Operate a vessel fishing under the authority of a CQ permit in the catcher vessel sector and to have any Pacific ocean perch, dusky rockfish, northern rockfish, sablefish, Pacific cod, or thornyhead rockfish aboard the vessel unless those fish were harvested under the authority of a CQ permit.

(vii) Catch and process onboard a vessel any rockfish primary species or rockfish secondary species harvested under the authority of a CQ permit issued to the catcher vessel sector.

(viii) Have a negative balance in a CQ account for any species for which CQ is assigned after the end of the calendar year for which a CQ permit was issued.

(ix) Deliver rockfish primary species and rockfish secondary species harvested under the authority of a CQ permit to any processor other than a shoreside processor located within the geographic boundaries of the City of Kodiak as those boundaries are established by the State of Alaska on December 27, 2011.

(x) Fail to submit a timely and complete rockfish CQ cost recovery fee submission form as required under § 679.5(r)(9).

(7) Use caps. Exceed the use caps that apply under § 679.82(a).

(8) Rockfish entry level longline fishery. (i) Take deliveries of, or process, groundfish caught by a catcher vessel directed fishing in the rockfish entry level longline fishery unless operating as a shoreside processor.

(ii) Deliver groundfish caught by a catcher vessel directed fishing in the rockfish entry level longline fishery to any processor other than a shoreside processor.

(iii) Use any gear other than longline gear to directed fish for a rockfish primary species in the rockfish entry level longline fishery.

(iv) Catch and process onboard a vessel any rockfish primary species harvested while directed fishing in the rockfish entry level longline fishery.

(v) Deliver groundfish caught by a catcher vessel directed fishing in the rockfish entry level longline fishery fishing after NMFS has closed directed fishing to the rockfish entry level longline fishery or November 15 of each calendar year, whichever occurs first.

(o) Amendment 80 Program—(1) Amendment 80 vessels. (i) Use any vessel other than an Amendment 80 vessel to catch any amount of Amendment 80 species, crab PSC, or halibut PSC assigned to the Amendment 80 sector.

(ii) Use an Amendment 80 vessel to catch any amount of Amendment 80 species, crab PSC, or halibut PSC assigned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector.

(2) Amendment 80 LLP license. (i) Designate any vessel other than an Amendment 80 vessel on an Amendment 80 LLP license;

(ii) Fail to designate an Amendment 80 vessel on an Amendment 80 LLP license that is endorsed for groundfish in the Bering Sea subarea or Aleutian Islands subarea with a catcher/processor designation at all times during a calendar year unless that Amendment 80 vessel has suffered an actual total loss, constructive total loss, or is permanently ineligible to receive a fishery endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 12108.

(3) Amendment 80 QS permit. (i) Hold an Amendment 80 QS permit assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel if that person does not hold an Amendment 80 LLP license that designates that Amendment 80 vessel.

(ii) Hold an Amendment 80 QS permit that is assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel under § 679.4(o)(1) if that person is not designated as the owner of that Amendment 80 vessel by an abstract of title or USCG documentation.

(iii) Hold an Amendment 80 QS permit assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel if that Amendment 80 vessel has suffered an actual total loss, constructive total loss, or is permanently ineligible to receive a fishery endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 12108 after October 15 in the calendar year following the date of that actual total loss, constructive total loss, or permanent ineligibility to receive a fishery endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 12108.

(iv) Fish in an Amendment 80 fishery without an Amendment 80 QS permit or Amendment 80 LLP/QS license assigned to that vessel.

(v) Use an Amendment 80 catcher/processor, as defined at § 679.2, to receive and process Pacific cod harvested by vessels directed fishing for Pacific cod in the BSAI or GOA, if that catcher/processor is not designated on:

(A) An Amendment 80 QS permit and an Amendment 80 LLP license; or

(B) An Amendment 80 LLP/QS license.

(4) Amendment 80 cooperatives. (i) Use an Amendment 80 vessel, Amendment 80 LLP license, or Amendment 80 QS permit not assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative for a calendar year to catch any Amendment 80 species, crab PSC, or halibut PSC assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative during that calendar year;

(ii) Use an Amendment 80 vessel assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative for a calendar year to receive or process catch from any Amendment 80 vessel not assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative for that calendar year.

(iii) Catch, process, or receive Amendment 80 species assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative in the BSAI or adjacent waters open by the State of Alaska for which it adopts a Federal fishing season without a copy of a valid Amendment 80 CQ permit onboard unless that Amendment 80 vessel is using dredge gear while directed fishing for scallops.

(iv) [Reserved]

(v) Begin a fishing trip for any Amendment 80 species with any vessel assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative if the total amount of unharvested CQ that is currently held by that Amendment 80 cooperative is zero or less for any species for which CQ is assigned.

(vi) Have a negative balance in a CQ account for any species for which CQ is assigned after the end of the calendar year for which a CQ permit was issued.

(vii) Fail to submit a timely and complete Amendment 80 cost recovery fee submission form and fee as required under § 679.95.

(5) Amendment 80 limited access fishery. (i) Use an Amendment 80 vessel, Amendment 80 LLP license, or Amendment 80 QS permit not assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery for a calendar year to catch any Amendment 80 species, crab PSC, or halibut PSC assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access sector during that calendar year;

(ii) Use an Amendment 80 vessel assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery for a calendar year to receive or process catch from any Amendment 80 vessel not assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery for that calendar year;

(iii) Catch, process, or receive Amendment 80 species assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the BSAI or adjacent waters open by the State of Alaska for which it adopts a Federal fishing season without a copy of a valid Amendment 80 limited access fishery permit onboard unless that Amendment 80 vessel is using dredge gear while directed fishing for scallops.

(6) Catch monitoring. (i) Operate an Amendment 80 vessel using any gear but dredge gear while directed fishing for scallops or a catcher/processor not listed in § 679.4(l)(2)(i) and using trawl gear, to catch, process, or receive fish in the BSAI or adjacent waters opened by the State of Alaska for which it adopts a Federal fishing season and fail to follow the catch monitoring requirements detailed at § 679.93(a), (b), and (c).

(ii) Operate an Amendment 80 vessel using any gear but dredge gear while directed fishing for scallops that is subject to a sideboard limit detailed at § 679.92(b) and (c), as applicable, in the GOA or adjacent waters open by the State of Alaska for which it adopts a Federal fishing season, and fail to follow the catch monitoring requirements detailed at § 679.93(a), (b), and (d).

(7) Use caps. Exceed the use caps that apply under § 679.92(a).

(8) Economic data report (EDR): Fail to submit a timely and complete EDR as described under § 679.94.

(9) First Wholesale Volume and Value Report. For an Amendment 80 vessel owner to fail to submit a timely and complete First Wholesale Volume and Value Report as required under § 679.5(u)(2).

(p) Arctic Management Area. Conduct commercial fishing for any Arctic fish in the Arctic Management Area.

See § 600.730 of this chapter.

See § 600.735 of this chapter.