50 CFR Part 679

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR Part 679 (July 15, 2026)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 50 —Wildlife and Fisheries
Chapter VI —Fishery Conservation and Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Department of Commerce
Part 679 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska
Subpart A General
§ 679.1 Purpose and scope.
§ 679.2 Definitions.
§ 679.3 Relation to other laws.
§ 679.4 Permits.
§ 679.5 Recordkeeping and reporting (R&R).
§ 679.6 Exempted fisheries.
§ 679.7 Prohibitions.
§ 679.8 Facilitation of enforcement.
§ 679.9 Penalties.
Subpart B Management Measures
§ 679.20 General limitations.
§ 679.21 Prohibited species bycatch management.
§ 679.22 Closures.
§ 679.23 Seasons.
§ 679.24 Gear limitations.
§ 679.25 Inseason adjustments.
§ 679.26 Prohibited Species Donation Program.
§ 679.27 Improved Retention/Improved Utilization Program.
§ 679.28 Equipment and operational requirements.
Subpart C Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program
§ 679.30 [Reserved]
§ 679.31 CDQ and PSQ reserves, allocations, and transfers.
§ 679.32 Groundfish and halibut CDQ catch monitoring.
§ 679.33 CDQ cost recovery.
Subpart D Individual Fishing Quota Management Measures
§ 679.40 Sablefish and halibut QS.
§ 679.41 Transfer of quota shares and IFQ.
§ 679.42 Limitations on use of QS and IFQ.
§ 679.43 Determinations and appeals.
§ 679.44 Penalties.
§ 679.45 IFQ cost recovery program.
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§ 679.46 Recreational Quota Entity (RQE) Program fee collection.
Subpart E North Pacific Observer Program
§ 679.50 Applicability.
§ 679.51 Observer and Electronic Monitoring System requirements for vessels and plants.
§ 679.52 Observer provider permitting and responsibilities.
§ 679.53 Observer certification and responsibilities.
§ 679.54 Release of observer data to the public.
§ 679.55 Observer fees.
§ 679.56 Full coverage trawl Electronic Monitoring category fee.
§ 679.57 Trawl EM incentive plan agreements.
Subpart F American Fisheries Act and Aleutian Island Directed Pollock Fishery
Management Measures
§ 679.60 Authority and related regulations.
§ 679.61 Formation and operation of fishery cooperatives.
§ 679.62 Inshore sector cooperative allocation program.
§ 679.63 Catch weighing requirements for vessels and processors.
§ 679.64 Harvesting sideboard limits in other fisheries.
§ 679.65 Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management Program Economic Data Report
(Chinook salmon EDR program).
§ 679.66 AFA cost recovery.
§ 679.67 Aleutian Islands pollock cost recovery.
Subpart G Rockfish Program
§ 679.80 Allocation and transfer of rockfish QS.
§ 679.81 Rockfish Program annual harvester privileges.
§ 679.82 Rockfish Program use caps and sideboard limits.
§ 679.83 Rockfish Program entry level longline fishery.
§ 679.84 Rockfish Program recordkeeping, permits, monitoring, and catch accounting.
§ 679.85 Cost recovery.
Subpart H Amendment 80 Program
§ 679.90 Allocation, use, and transfer of Amendment 80 QS permits.
§ 679.91 Amendment 80 Program annual harvester privileges.
§ 679.92 Amendment 80 Program use caps and sideboard limits.
§ 679.93 Amendment 80 Program recordkeeping, permits, monitoring, and catch accounting.
§ 679.94 Economic data report (EDR) for the Amendment 80 sector.
§ 679.95 Amendment 80 Program cost recovery.
Subpart I Additional Equipment and Operational Requirements for Motherships
and Catcher/Processors
§ 679.100 Longline Catcher/Processor Subsector.
§ 679.101 Catcher/processors using pot gear for groundfish fishing.
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§ 679.102 Halibut deck sorting.
Subpart J Salmon Fishery Management
§ 679.110 Applicability.
§§ 679.111-679.113 [Reserved]
§ 679.114 Permits.
§ 679.115 Recordkeeping and reporting.
§ 679.116 [Reserved]
§ 679.117 Salmon fisheries prohibitions.
§ 679.118 Management measures.
§ 679.119 Recreational salmon fisheries.
Subpart K [Reserved]
Subpart L Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program
§ 679.130 Allocation, use, and transfer of PCTC Program QS permits.
§ 679.131 PCTC Program annual harvester privileges.
§ 679.132 Aleutian Islands CQ set-aside provisions in the PCTC Program.
§ 679.133 PCTC Program ownership caps, use caps, and sideboard limits.
§ 679.134 PCTC Program permits, catch monitoring, catch accounting, and recordkeeping and
reporting.
§ 679.135 PCTC Program cost recovery.
Appendix A to Part 679
Performance and Technical Requirements for Scales Used To
Weigh Catch at Sea in the Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska
Figure 1 to Part 679
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Statistical and Reporting Areas
Figure 2 to Part 679
BSAI Catcher Vessel Operational Area
Figure 3 to Part 679
Gulf of Alaska Reporting Areas
Figure 4 to Part 679
BSAI Herring Savings Areas
Figure 5 to Part 679
Kodiak Island Type 1, 2, and 3 Nonpelagic Trawl Closure Status
and Marmot Bay Tanner Crab Protection Area
Figure 6 to Part 679
Length Overall of Vessel
Figure 7 to Part 679
Location of Trawl Gear Test Areas in the GOA and the BSAI
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Figure 8 to Part 679
Aleutian Islands Chinook Salmon Savings Area
Figure 9 to Part 679
Chum Savings Area (CSSA) of the CVOA
Figure 10 to Part 679
Pribilof Islands Habitat Conservation Zone (PIHCZ) in the Bering
Sea
Figure 11 to Part 679
Red King Crab Savings Area (RKCSA)
Figure 12 to Part 679
Bristol Bay Trawl Closure Area
Figure 13 to Part 679
BSAI C. Opilio Tanner Crab Bycatch Limitations Zone
Figure 14 to Part 679
Sablefish Regulatory Areas
Figure 15 to Part 679
Regulatory Areas for the Pacific Halibut Fishery
Figure 16 to Part 679
Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Area
Figure 17 to Part 679
Northern Bering Sea Research Area and Saint Lawrence Island
Habitat Conservation Area (HCA)
Figure 18 to Part 679
Sitka Pinnacles Marine Reserve
Figure 19 to Part 679
Shelikof Strait Conservation Area
Figure 20 to Part 679
Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) of the Bering Sea
Figure 21 to Part 679
Nunivak Island, Etolin Strait, and Kuskokwim Bay Habitat
Conservation Area
Figure 22 to Part 679
Cook Inlet EEZ Area
Figure 23 to Part 679
Salmon Management Area (see § 679.2)
Figure 24 to Part 679
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Arctic Management Area
Figure 25 to Part 679
Elevating Device Clearance Measurement Locations for Modified
Nonpelagic Trawl Gear
Figure 26 to Part 679
Modified Nonpelagic Trawl Gear
Figure 27 to Part 679
Locations for Measuring Maximum Cross Sections of Line
Material (shown as A) and Supporting Material (shown as B) for
Modified Nonpelagic Trawl Gear
Table 1a to Part 679
Delivery Condition* and Product Codes
Table 1b to Part 679
Discard and Disposition Codes 1
Table 1c to Part 679
Product Type Codes
Table 2a to Part 679
Species Codes: FMP Groundfish
Table 2b to Part 679
Species Codes: FMP Prohibited Species and CR Crab
Table 2c to Part 679
Species Codes: FMP Forage Fish Species (All Species of the
Following Families), Grenadier Species, Squids, and Sculpins
Table 2d to Part 679
Species Codes: Non-FMP Species
Table 3 to Part 679
Product Recovery Rates for Groundfish Species and Conversion
Rates for Pacific Halibut
Table 4 to Part 679
Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas Pollock Fisheries Restrictions
Table 5 to Part 679
Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas Pacific Cod Fisheries
Restrictions
Table 6 to Part 679
Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas Atka Mackerel Fisheries
Restrictions
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Table 7 to Part 679
Community Development Quota Groups and Communities
Eligible To Participate in the CDQ Program
Table 8 to Part 679
Harvest Zone Codes for Use With Vessel Activity Reports
Table 9 to Part 679
Groundfish LLP Licenses Eligible for Use in the BSAI Longline
Catcher/Processor Subsector, Column A. X Indicates Whether
Column B or Column C Applies.
Table 10 to Part 679
Gulf of Alaska Retainable Percentage
Table 11 to Part 679
BSAI Retainable Percentage
Table 12 to Part 679
Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas, 3nm No Groundfish Fishing
Sites
Table 13 to Part 679
Transfer Form Summary
Table 14a to Part 679
Port of Landing Codes 1, Alaska
Table 14b to Part 679
Port of Landing Codes: Non-Alaska
Table 14c to Part 679
At-sea Operation Type Codes To Be Used as Port Codes for
Vessels Matching This Type of Operation
Table 15 to Part 679
Gear Codes, Descriptions, and Use
Table 16 to Part 679
Area Codes and Descriptions for Use With State of Alaska
ADF&G Commercial Operator's Annual Report (COAR)
Table 17 to Part 679
Process Codes for Use With State of Alaska Commercial
Operator's Annual Report (COAR)
Table 18 to Part 679
Required Buying and Production Forms for use With State of
Alaska Commercial Operator's Annual Report (COAR)
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Table 19 to Part 679
Seabird Avoidance Gear Codes
Table 20 to Part 679
Seabird Avoidance Gear Requirements for Vessels, based on
Area, Gear, and Vessel Type. (See § 679.24(e) for complete
seabird avoidance program requirements; see 679.24(e)(1) for
applicable fisheries)
Table 21 to Part 679
Eligible Communities, Halibut IFQ Regulatory Area Location,
Community Governing Body That Recommends the CQE, and the
Fishing Programs and Associated Areas Where a CQE
Representing an Eligible Community May Be Permitted To
Participate
Table 22 to Part 679
Alaska Seamount Habitat Protection Areas
Table 23 to Part 679
Aleutian Islands Coral Habitat Protection Areas
Table 24 to Part 679
Except as Noted, Locations in the Aleutian Islands Habitat
Conservation Area Open to Nonpelagic Trawl Fishing
Table 25 to Part 679
Bowers Ridge Habitat Conservation Zone
Table 26 to Part 679
Gulf of Alaska Coral Habitat Protection Areas
Table 27 to Part 679
Gulf of Alaska Slope Habitat Conservation Areas
Table 28a to Part 679
Qualifying Season Dates for Central GOA Rockfish Primary
Species
Table 28b to Part 679
Qualifying Season Dates for Central GOA Rockfish Primary
Species
Table 28c to Part 679
Allocation of Rockfish Secondary Species
Table 28d to Part 679
Allocation of Halibut PSC under the Central GOA Rockfish
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Program
Table 28e to Part 679
Rockfish Entry Level Longline Fishery Allocations
Table 29 to Part 679
Initial Rockfish QS Pools
Table 30 to Part 679
Rockfish Program Retainable Percentages
Table 31 to Part 679
List of Amendment 80 Vessels and LLP Licenses Originally
Assigned to an Amendment 80 Vessel
Table 32 to Part 679
Amendment 80 Initial QS Pool
Table 33 to Part 679
Annual Apportion of Amendment 80 Species ITAC Between the
Amendment 80 and BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors (Except
Yellowfin Sole)
Table 34 to Part 679
Annual Apportionment of BSAI Yellowfin Sole Between the
Amendment 80 and BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors
Table 35 to Part 679
Apportionment of Crab PSC and Halibut PSC Between the
Amendment 80 and BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors
Table 36 to Part 679
Percentage of Crab and Halibut PSC Limit Assigned to Each
Amendment 80 Species
Table 37 to Part 679
GOA Amendment 80 Sideboard Limit for Groundfish for the
Amendment 80 Sector
Table 38 to Part 679
GOA Amendment 80 Sideboard Limit for Halibut PSC for the
Amendment 80 Sector
Table 39 to Part 679
Amendment 80 Vessels That May Be Used to Directed Fish for
Flatfish in the GOA
Table 40 to Part 679
BSAI Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for AFA Catcher/Processors
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and AFA Catcher Vessels
Table 41 to Part 679
BSAI Crab PSC Sideboard Limits for AFA Catcher/Processors and
AFA Catcher Vessels
Table 42 to Part 679
Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Area
Table 43 to Part 679
Northern Bering Sea Research Area
Table 44 to Part 679
Nunivak Island, Etolin Strait, and Kuskokwim Bay Habitat
Conservation Area
Table 45 to Part 679
St. Lawrence Island Habitat Conservation Area
Table 46 to Part 679
St. Matthew Island Habitat Conservation Area
Tables 47-48 to Part 679 [Reserved]
Table 49 to Part 679
Groundfish Licenses Qualifying for Hook-and-Line Catcher/
Processor Endorsement Exemption
Table 50 to Part 679 [Reserved]
Table 51 to Part 679
Modified Gear Trawl Zone
Table 52 to Part 679
Groundfish LLP Licenses Eligible for a BSAI Trawl Limited Access
Sector Yellowfin Sole Directed Fishery Endorsement
Table 53 to Part 679
Groundfish LLP Licenses That Require Qualified Landings
Assignment To Be Eligible for a BSAI Trawl Limited Access
Sector Yellowfin Sole Directed Fishery Endorsement
Table 54 to Part 679
BSAI Species and Species Groups for Which Directed Fishing for
Sideboard Limits by Listed AFA Catcher/Processors and Catcher/
Processors Designated on Listed AFA Catcher/Processor
Permits is Prohibited
Table 55 to Part 679
BSAI Species and Species Groups for Which Directed Fishing for
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Sideboard Limits by Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessels is
Prohibited
Table 56 to Part 679
GOA Species and Species Groups for Which Directed Fishing for
Sideboard Limits by Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessels is
Prohibited
Table 57 to Part 679
Groundfish LLP Licenses With Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands
Area and Catcher/Processor Operation Endorsements Eligible for
a BSAI Pacific Cod Trawl Mothership Endorsement
Table 58 to Part 679
Amendment 80 Sector Annual BSAI Pacific Halibut PSC Limits

PART 679—FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF
ALASKA
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 111-281.

Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 679 appear at 61 FR 56438, Nov. 1, 1996; 62 FR 2047, Jan. 15,
1997; 66 FR 27909, May 21, 2001; 67 FR 79739, Dec. 30, 2002; and 77 FR 6502, Feb. 8, 2012.

Subpart A—General
§ 679.1 Purpose and scope.
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).
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50 CFR 679.1(c)

(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.

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(j)

50 CFR 679.1(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).

[61 FR 31230, June 19, 1996]

Editorial Note: For FEDERAL REGISTER citations affecting § 679.1, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which
appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

§ 679.2 Definitions.
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.
50 CFR 679.2 “ADF&G fish ticket number” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “ADF&G processor code”

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.

50 CFR 679.2 “AFA vessel” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Affiliates”

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;

50 CFR 679.2 “Affiliation for the purpose of defining AFA, Rockfish Program, and PCTC Program” (3)(v)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Affiliation for the purpose of defining AFA,
Rockfish Program, and PCTC Program” (3)(vi)

(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.).

50 CFR 679.2 “Aleut Corporation” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Aleut Corporation entity”

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.
50 CFR 679.2 “Amendment 80 fee liability” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “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.

50 CFR 679.2 “Amendment 80 official record” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Amendment 80 Program”

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).
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50 CFR 679.2 “Appointed agent for service of process”

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.

50 CFR 679.2 “Area/species endorsement” (3) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Area/species endorsement” (4)

(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.

50 CFR 679.2 “Authorized fishing gear” (4)(ii) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Authorized fishing gear” (4)(iii)

(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;

50 CFR 679.2 “Authorized fishing gear” (14)(iii)(B) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Authorized fishing gear” (14)(iv)

(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 netsounder 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, or used
to directed fish for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI, 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).
(A) 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.

50 CFR 679.2 “Authorized fishing gear” (15)(ii)(A) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Authorized fishing gear” (15)(ii)(B)

(B) Greenland turbot exception. If directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea
subarea of the BSAI with longline pots, the tunnel opening requirement under paragraph
15(ii) of this definition does 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 MagnusonStevens 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).

50 CFR 679.2 “Bering Sea Subarea of the BSAI” (enhanced display)

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Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Bled codend”

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.

50 CFR 679.2 “Catcher vessel (C/V)” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Catcher vessel designation”

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).
50 CFR 679.2 “Central Aleutian District” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “Central GOA Regulatory Area”

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).
Charter halibut permit (see 50 CFR 300.61 of this title).
Charter halibut permit holder, for purposes of 50 CFR 300.67 of this title and § 679.46, means the person
identified on a charter halibut permit, community charter halibut permit, or military charter halibut permit.
Charter halibut stamp means an electronic stamp that is required for each charter vessel angler, 18 years of age
or older, for each charter vessel fishing trip in a given calendar day, or each calendar day during a charter
vessel fishing trip that spans multiple days, that the charter vessel angler intends to catch and retain
halibut on a charter vessel in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory area 2C or 3A,
unless that charter vessel angler retains halibut as Guided Angler Fish, as defined at 50 CFR 300.61 of
this title, on days that are otherwise closed to halibut retention by the annual management measures
published pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62 of this title.
Charter halibut stamp validation means, with respect to the Recreational Quota Entity Program fee collection, as
described at 50 CFR 679.46, the charter vessel guide, as defined at 50 CFR 300.61 of this title, recording
the number of charter halibut stamps required for each charter vessel fishing trip the charter vessel guide
provides sport fishing guide services, as defined at 50 CFR 300.61 of this title, in the ADF&G Saltwater
Sport Fishing Charter Trip Logbook that is required by 50 CFR 300.65(d) of this title before the trip begins,
or prior to the first deployment of fishing gear on each calendar day during a charter vessel fishing trip
that spans multiple days.
Charter vessel (see 50 CFR 300.61 of this title).
Charter vessel angler (see 50 CFR 300.61of this title).
Charter vessel fishing trip (see 50 CFR 300.61 of this title).
Charter vessel guide (see 50 CFR 300.61 of this title).
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)).
50 CFR 679.2 “Commercial Operator's Annual Report (COAR)” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Commissioner of ADF&G”

Commissioner of ADF&G means the principal executive officer of ADF&G.
Community charter halibut permit (see 50 CFR 300.61 of this title).
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.
50 CFR 679.2 “Council” (enhanced display)

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Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Crab species”

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.
50 CFR 679.2 “Direct financial interest” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Directed fishing”

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.

50 CFR 679.2 “eLandings” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “Electronic Monitoring system or EM system”

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.

50 CFR 679.2 “Eligible community means” (2)(iv) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “Eligible community means” (3)

(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:

50 CFR 679.2 “EM service provider” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “EM service provider” (1)

(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:
50 CFR 679.2 “Fishing trip” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “Fishing trip” (1)

(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.

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50 CFR 679.2 “Fishing trip” (6)

(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.
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50 CFR 679.2 “Gulf of Alaska (GOA)”

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

50 CFR 679.2 “IFQ crew member” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “IFQ equivalent pound(s)”

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.
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50 CFR 679.2 “IFQ standard price”

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,
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50 CFR 679.2 “Inshore component in the GOA” (3)(iii)

(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.

50 CFR 679.2 “LLP license originally assigned to an Amendment 80 vessel” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Logbook”

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 hookand-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).

50 CFR 679.2 “Maximum LOA (MLOA)” (2)(v) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.2 “Maximum LOA (MLOA)” (2)(vi)

(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)).
Military charter halibut permit (see 50 CFR 300.61 of this title)
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.
50 CFR 679.2 “Nunivak Island, Etolin Strait, and Kuskokwim Bay Habitat Conservation Area” (enhanced

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “Observed”

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:

50 CFR 679.2 “Optimum yield” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Optimum yield” (1)

(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.
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50 CFR 679.2 “Pollock CDQ 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.
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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Qualified Person”

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;
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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “Reporting area” (2)

(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.
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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “Rockfish legal landings”

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.
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50 CFR 679.2 “Rockfish sector”

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).

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Salmon bycatch incentive plan agreement
(IPA)”

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).)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Shoreside processor”

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.

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Support vessel”

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;

50 CFR 679.2 “Ten percent or greater direct or indirect ownership interest for purposes of the Amendment 80

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.2 “Ten percent or greater direct or indirect
ownership interest for purposes of the Amendment 80
Program” (4)(iv)

(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:
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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “U.S. citizen” (1)

(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).
50 CFR 679.2 “Western GOA Regulatory Area” (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.2 “Wing tip”

Wing tip means the point where adjacent breast lines intersect or where a breast line intersects with the fishing
line.
[61 FR 31230, June 19, 1996]

Editorial Note: For FEDERAL REGISTER citations affecting § 679.2, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which
appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

§ 679.3 Relation to other laws.
(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.
[61 FR 31230, June 19, 1996, as amended at 61 FR 35578, July 5, 1996; 62 FR 2045, Jan. 15, 1997; 62 FR 19688, Apr. 23, 1997; 63
FR 38502, July 17, 1998; 63 FR 47356, Sept. 4, 1998; 69 FR 877, Jan. 7, 2004; 70 FR 10232, Mar. 2, 2005; 77 FR 75587, Dec. 21,
2012; 89 FR 34758, Apr. 30, 2024]

§ 679.4 Permits.
(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.

50 CFR 679.4(a) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(a)(1)

(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.

If program permit or
card type is:

Permit is in effect from issue date through the end of:

For more
information, see .
..

(i) IFQ:
(A) Registered buyer

Until expiration date shown on permit

Paragraph
(d)(3)(ii) of this
section

(B) Halibut & sablefish
permits

Specified fishing year

Paragraph (d)(1)
of this section

(C) Halibut & sablefish
hired master permits

Specified fishing year

Paragraph (d)(2)
of this section

(A) Halibut permit

Specified fishing year

Paragraph (e) of
this section

(B) Halibut hired master
permit

Specified fishing year

Paragraph (e) of
this section

(A) Catcher/processor

Indefinite unless permit is revoked after vessel is
replaced or permit is suspended after vessel is lost

Paragraph (l) of
this section

(B) Catcher vessel

Indefinite unless permit is revoked after vessel is
replaced or removed, or permit is suspended after
vessel is lost

Paragraph (l) of
this section

(C)Mothership

Indefinite unless permit is revoked after vessel is
replaced or permit is suspended after vessel is lost

Paragraph (l) of
this section

(D) Inshore processor

Indefinite

Paragraph (l) of
this section

(E) Inshore cooperative

Calendar year

Paragraph (l) of
this section

(A) Federal fisheries

Until expiration date shown on permit

Paragraph (b) of
this section

(B) Federal processor

Until expiration date shown on permit

Paragraph (f) of
this section

5 years

§ 300.10 of this
title

(ii) CDQ Halibut

(iii) AFA:

(iv) Groundfish:

(v) [Reserved]
(vi) High Seas Fishing
Compliance Act
(HSFCA)
(vii) License
Limitation Program

50 CFR 679.4(a)(1) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(a)(1)

Permit is in effect from issue date through the end of:

For more
information, see .
..

(A) Groundfish license

Specified fishing year or interim (active until further
notice)

Paragraph (k) of
this section

(B) Crab license

Specified fishing year or interim (active until further
notice)

Paragraph (k) of
this section

(C) Scallop license

Indefinite

Paragraph (g) of
this section

(viii) Exempted
fisheries

1 year or less

§ 679.6

(ix) Research

1 year or less

§ 600.745(a) of
this chapter

(A) Salmon

3 years

§ 679.26

(B) Halibut

3 years

§ 679.26

(A) Community Harvest
Permit

1 year

§ 300.65 of this
title

(B) Ceremonial or
Educational Permit

30 days

§ 300.65 of this
title

(A) Rockfish QS

Indefinite

§ 679.80(a).

(B) CQ

Until expiration date shown on permit

Paragraph (n) of
this section.

(A) Amendment 80
QS permit

Indefinite

§ 679.90(b).

(B) CQ permit

Specified fishing year

§ 679.91(b).

(C) Amendment 80
limited access fishery

Specified fishing year

§ 679.91(b).

(xiv) Crab
Rationalization
Program permits

see § 680.4 of this chapter

§ 680.4 of this
chapter

(A) Crab Quota Share
permit

Indefinite

§ 680.4(b) of this
chapter

(B) Crab Processor
Quota Share permit

Indefinite

§ 680.4(c) of this
chapter

If program permit or
card type is:
(LLP):

(x) Prohibited species
donation program:

(xi) Special
Subsistence Permits:

(xii) Rockfish
Program:

(xiii) Amendment 80
Program:

50 CFR 679.4(a)(1) (enhanced display)

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If program permit or
card type is:

Permit is in effect from issue date through the end of:

50 CFR 679.4(a)(2)

For more
information, see .
..

(C) Crab Individual
Fishing Quota (IFQ)
permit

Specified fishing year

§ 680.4(d) of this
chapter

(D) Crab Individual
Processor Quota
(IPQ) permit

Specified fishing year

§ 680.4(e) of this
chapter

(E) Crab IFQ hired
master permit

Specified fishing year

§ 680.4(g) of this
chapter

(F) Registered Crab
receiver permit

Specified fishing year

§ 680.4(i) of this
chapter

(G) Federal crab vessel
permit

Specified fishing year

§ 680.4(k) of this
chapter

(H) Crab harvesting
cooperative IFQ
permit

Specified fishing year

§ 680.21(b) of this
chapter

(A) Charter halibut
permit

Until expiration date shown on permit

50 CFR 300.67 of
this title and §
679.46.

(B) Community charter
halibut permit

Indefinite unless invalidated under §
679.46(a)(1)(vi)(D)

50 CFR 300.67 of
this title and §
679.46.

(C) Military charter
halibut permit

Indefinite unless invalidated under §
679.46(a)(1)(vi)(D)

50 CFR 300.67 of
this title and §
679.46.

(D) Guided Angler
Fish (GAF) permit

Until expiration date shown on permit

§ 300.65 of this
title.

(A) PCTC Program QS
permit (for
processors)

10 Years

Paragraph (q) of
this section.

(B) PCTC Program CQ
permit

Until expiration date shown on permit

Paragraph (q) of
this section

(xv) Guided sport
halibut fishery
permits:

(xvi) PCTC Program:

(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 —
50 CFR 679.4(a)(3) (enhanced display)

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(i)

50 CFR 679.4(a)(3)(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).

50 CFR 679.4(a)(9)(iii) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(a)(9)(iv)

(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.

50 CFR 679.4(b)(3)(ii)(C) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(b)(3)(ii)(D)

(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.

50 CFR 679.4(b)(5)(ii) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(b)(5)(iii)

(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.

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50 CFR 679.4(d)(2)(ii)

(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.
50 CFR 679.4(d)(4) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(d)(5)

(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.
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(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

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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
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(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:
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(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
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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.

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(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;

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(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
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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 hookand-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 hookand-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.

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(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.
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(3)(iv)(E)

(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 nontrawl 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:

A groundfish
license will be
assigned...

(A) One or more

if the requirements
found in the table at §
679.4(k)(4)(ii) are
met for the area
endorsement and at
least one
documented harvest
of license limitation
groundfish was
caught and retained
in...

during the period...

the BSAI or waters (1) Beginning January 1, 1988, through June 27, 1992;

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A groundfish
license will be
assigned...

if the requirements
found in the table at §
679.4(k)(4)(ii) are
met for the area
endorsement and at
least one
documented harvest
of license limitation
groundfish was
caught and retained
in...

area
shoreward of the BSAI
endorsements in
the table at §
679.4(k)(4)(ii)(A)
or (B)

(B) One or more
area
endorsements in
the table at §
679.4(k)(4)(ii)(C)
through (O)

50 CFR 679.4(k)(4)(i)

during the period...

or
(2) Beginning January 1, 1988, through December 31,
1994, provided that the harvest was of license limitation
groundfish using pot or jig gear from a vessel that was
less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; or
(3) Beginning January 1, 1988, through June 17, 1995,
provided that, during the period beginning January 1,
1988, through February 9, 1992, a documented harvest
of crab species was made from the vessel, and, during
the period beginning February 10, 1992, through
December 11, 1994, a documented harvest of
groundfish species, except sablefish landed using fixed
gear, was made from the vessel in the GOA or the BSAI
using trawl or longline gear.

the GOA or in waters (1) Beginning January 1, 1988, through June 27, 1992;
shoreward of the GOA or
(2) Beginning January 1, 1988, through December 31,
1994, provided that the harvest was of license limitation
groundfish using pot or jig gear from a vessel that was
less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; or
(3) Beginning January 1, 1988, through June 17, 1995,
provided that, during the period beginning January 1,
1988, through February 9, 1992, a documented harvest
of crab species was made from the vessel, and, during
the period beginning February 10, 1992, through
December 11, 1994, a documented harvest landing of
groundfish species, except sablefish landed using fixed
gear, was made from the vessel in the GOA or the BSAI

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A groundfish
license will be
assigned...

50 CFR 679.4(k)(4)(ii)

if the requirements
found in the table at §
679.4(k)(4)(ii) are
met for the area
endorsement and at
least one
documented harvest
of license limitation
groundfish was
caught and retained
in...

during the period...

using trawl or longline gear.

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

A groundfish
license will
be
assigned...
(A) An
Aleutian
Island area
endorsement

if...

during
the
period...

in...

from a
and that
vessel
meets the
in vessel
requirements
length
for a...
category...

at least one
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Aleutian Islands
Subarea or in waters
shoreward of that
area

“A”, “B”, or
“C”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation.

(B) A Bering at least one
Sea area
documented
endorsement harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Bering Sea
Subarea or in waters
shoreward of that
area

“A”, “B”, or
“C”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation.

(C) A
Western Gulf
area
endorsement

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Western GOA
regulatory area or in
waters shoreward of
that area

“A”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation;

at least one
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was

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A groundfish
license will
be
assigned...

if...

during
the
period...

50 CFR 679.4(k)(4)(ii)

in...

from a
and that
vessel
meets the
in vessel
requirements
length
for a...
category...

made in each of
any two calendar
years

or

(D) A
Western Gulf
area
endorsement

at least one
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Western Area of
the Gulf of Alaska or
in waters shoreward
of that area

“B”

catcher
vessel
designation;
or

(E) A
Western Gulf
area
endorsement

at least one
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made in each of
any two calendar
years

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Western Area of
the Gulf of Alaska or
in waters shoreward
of that area

“B”

catcher/
processor
vessel
designation;
or

(F) A
Western Gulf
area
endorsement

at least four
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish were
made

beginning
January
1, 1995,
through
June 17,
1995

the Western Area of
the Gulf of Alaska or
in waters shoreward
of that area

“B”

catcher/
processor
vessel
designation;
or

(G) A
Western Gulf
area
endorsement

at least one
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Western Area of
the Gulf of Alaska or
in waters shoreward
of that area

“C”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation.

(H) A Central at least one
Gulf area
documented
endorsement harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made in each of

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Central area of the
Gulf of Alaska or in
waters shoreward of
that area, or in the
West Yakutat District
or in waters
shoreward of that

“A”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation;
or

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A groundfish
license will
be
assigned...

if...

50 CFR 679.4(k)(4)(ii)

during
the
period...

any two calendar
years

in...

from a
and that
vessel
meets the
in vessel
requirements
length
for a...
category...

district

(I) A Central at least one
Gulf area
documented
endorsement harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made in each of
any two calendar
years

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Central area of the
Gulf of Alaska or in
waters shoreward of
that area, or in the
West Yakutat District
or in waters
shoreward of that
district

“B”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation;
or

(J) A Central at least four
Gulf area
documented
endorsement harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish were
made

beginning
January
1, 1995,
through
June 17,
1995

the Central area of the
Gulf of Alaska or in
waters shoreward of
that area, or in the
West Yakutat District
or in waters
shoreward of that
district

“B”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation;
or

(K) A Central at least one
Gulf area
documented
endorsement harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

the Central area of the
Gulf of Alaska or in
waters shoreward of
that area, or in the
West Yakutat District
or in waters
shoreward of that
district

“C”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation.

(L) A
Southeast
Outside area
endorsement

at least one
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made in each of
any two calendar
years

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

in the Southeast
Outside District or in
waters shoreward of
that district

“A”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation;
or

(M) A
Southeast
Outside area
endorsement

at least one
documented
harvest of any
amount of license

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through

in the Southeast
Outside District or in
waters shoreward of
that district

“B”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher

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Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

A groundfish
license will
be
assigned...

if...

during
the
period...

50 CFR 679.4(k)(4)(iii)

in...

from a
and that
vessel
meets the
in vessel
requirements
length
for a...
category...

limitation
groundfish was
made in each of
any two calendar
years

June 17,
1995

vessel
designation;
or

(N) A
Southeast
Outside area
endorsement

at least four
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish were
made

beginning
January
1, 1995,
through
June 17,
1995

in the Southeast
Outside District or in
waters shoreward of
that district

“B”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation;
or

(O) A
Southeast
Outside area
endorsement

at least one
documented
harvest of any
amount of license
limitation
groundfish was
made

beginning
January
1, 1992,
through
June 17,
1995

in the Southeast
Outside District or in
waters shoreward of
that district

“C”

catcher/
processor
designation
or a catcher
vessel
designation.

(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:
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(4)(v)(A)

(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
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(4)(ix)

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 nonAFA 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.
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(4)(x)

(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
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(5)

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:

A crab species license
will be assigned...

if...

during the
period...

in...

(A) A Pribilof red king
and Pribilof blue king
area/species
endorsement

at least one
documented harvest
of red king crab or
blue king crab was
made by a vessel

beginning
January 1,
1993,
through
December
31, 1994

the area described in the definition
for a Pribilof red king and Pribilof
blue king area/species
endorsement at § 679.2.

(B) A Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Area
C. opilio and C. bairdi
area/species
endorsement

at least three
documented harvests
of C. opilio and C.
bairdi were made by a
vessel

beginning
January 1,
1992,
through
December
31, 1994

the area described in the definition
for a Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Area C. opilio and C. bairdi
area/species endorsement at §
679.2.

(C) A St. Matthew blue
king area/species
endorsement

at least one
documented harvest
of red king crab or

beginning
January 1,
1992,

the area described in the definition
for a St. Matthew blue king area/
species endorsement at § 679.2.

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A crab species license
will be assigned...

if...

50 CFR 679.4(k)(5)(iii)

during the
period...

in...

blue king crab was
made by a vessel

through
December
31, 1994

at least three
documented harvests
of brown king crab
were made by a
vessel

beginning
January 1,
1992,
through
December
31, 1994

the area described in the definition
for an Aleutian Islands brown king
area/species endorsement at §
679.2.

(E) An Aleutian Islands at least one
red king area/species documented harvest
endorsement
of red king crab or
blue king crab was
made by a vessel

beginning
January 1,
1992,
through
December
31, 1994

the area described in the definition
for an Aleutian Islands red king
area/species endorsement at §
679.2.

(F) A Bristol Bay red
king area/species
endorsement

at least one
documented harvest
of red king crab or
blue king crab was
made by a vessel

beginning
January 1,
1991,
through
December
31, 1994

the area described in the definition
for a Bristol Bay red king area/
species endorsement at § 679.2.

(G) A Norton Sound
red king and blue king
area/species
endorsement

at least one
documented harvest
of red king crab or
blue king crab was
made by a vessel

beginning
January 1,
1993,
through
December
31, 1994

the area described in the definition
for a Norton Sound red king and
blue king area/species
endorsement at § 679.2.

(D) An Aleutian
Islands brown king
area/species
endorsement

(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).
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(5)(iii)(B)(2)

(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

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50 CFR 679.4(k)(6)(ii)

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:
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(6)(iv)(A)(1)

(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
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(6)(vii)

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 nontransferable 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;
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(6)(xi)(B)

(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.
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(7)(v)

(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.
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(7)(viii)(B)

(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:
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(8)(iv)(A)

(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:

If a license
holder's
license has
a...

And the license
holder harvested
Pacific cod in the
BSAI with . . .

Then the license holder
must demonstrate that
he or she harvested at
least . . .

In . . .

To receive a
Pacific cod
endorsement
that
authorizes
harvest with
...

(A) Catcher
vessel

Hook-and-line gear
or jig gear

7.5 mt of Pacific cod in
the BSAI.

In any one of the
years 1995, 1996,

Hook-andline gear.

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If a license
holder's
license has
a...

And the license
holder harvested
Pacific cod in the
BSAI with . . .

Then the license holder
must demonstrate that
he or she harvested at
least . . .

designation.

50 CFR 679.4(k)(9)(iii)

In . . .

To receive a
Pacific cod
endorsement
that
authorizes
harvest with
...

1997, 1998, or
1999

(B) Catcher
vessel
designation.

Pot gear or jig gear

100,000 lb of Pacific cod
in the BSAI.

In each of any two
of the years 1995,
1996, 1997, 1998,
or 1999

Pot gear.

(C) Catcher/
processor
vessel
designation.

Hook-and-line gear

270 mt of Pacific cod in
the BSAI.

In any one of the
years 1996, 1997,
1998, or 1999

Hook-andline gear.

(D) Catcher/
processor
vessel
designation.

Pot gear

300,000 lb of Pacific cod
in the BSAI.

In each of any two
of the years 1995,
1996, 1997, or
1998

Pot gear.

(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

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50 CFR 679.4(k)(9)(iii)(F)(2)

(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.

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50 CFR 679.4(k)(9)(v)(B)(1)

(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:

If a license
holder's
license has a
***

(A) Catcher
vessel

And the
And that
license
license
holder
has an harvested
MLOA of
Pacific
***
cod with
***
<60 feet

Then the license holder
must demonstrate that
he or she * * *

hook-and- legally landed at least 10
line gear
mt of Pacific cod in the

50 CFR 679.4(k)(10)(ii) (enhanced display)

From
January
1, 2002,
through
December
8, 2008,
in * * *

To receive a
Pacific cod
endorsement that
authorizes
harvest in the
directed Pacific
cod fishery with *
**

the
Central

hook-and-line gear
in the Central Gulf

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If a license
holder's
license has a
***

And the
And that
license
license
holder
has an harvested
MLOA of
Pacific
***
cod with
***

designation

50 CFR 679.4(k)(10)(ii)

To receive a
Pacific cod
endorsement that
authorizes
harvest in the
directed Pacific
cod fishery with *
**

Then the license holder
must demonstrate that
he or she * * *

From
January
1, 2002,
through
December
8, 2008,
in * * *

directed Pacific cod
fishery

Gulf of
Alaska

of Alaska.

(B) Catcher
vessel
designation

≥60 feet

hook-and- legally landed at least 50
line gear
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Central
Gulf of
Alaska

hook-and-line gear
in the Central Gulf
of Alaska.

(C) Catcher
vessel
designation

<60 feet

hook-and- legally landed at least 10
line gear
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Western
Gulf of
Alaska

hook-and-line gear
in the Western
Gulf of Alaska.

(D) Catcher
vessel
designation

≥60 feet

hook-and- legally landed at least 50
line gear
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Western
Gulf of
Alaska

hook-and-line gear
in the Western
Gulf of Alaska.

(E) Catcher
vessel
designation

<60 feet

pot gear

legally landed at least 10
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Central
Gulf of
Alaska

pot gear in the
Central Gulf of
Alaska.

(F) Catcher
vessel
designation

≥60 feet

pot gear

legally landed at least 50
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Central
Gulf of
Alaska

pot gear in the
Central Gulf of
Alaska.

(G) Catcher
vessel
designation

<60 feet

pot gear

legally landed at least 10
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Western
Gulf of
Alaska

pot gear in the
Western Gulf of
Alaska.

(H) Catcher
vessel
designation

≥60 feet

pot gear

legally landed at least 50
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Western
Gulf of
Alaska

pot gear in the
Western Gulf of
Alaska.

(I) Catcher
vessel
designation

any

jig gear

at least one legal landing
of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Central
Gulf of
Alaska

jig gear in the
Central Gulf of
Alaska.

(J) Catcher
vessel

any

jig gear

at least one legal landing
of Pacific cod in the

the
Western

jig gear in the
Western Gulf of

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If a license
holder's
license has a
***

And the
And that
license
license
holder
has an harvested
MLOA of
Pacific
***
cod with
***

designation

50 CFR 679.4(k)(10)(iii)

To receive a
Pacific cod
endorsement that
authorizes
harvest in the
directed Pacific
cod fishery with *
**

Then the license holder
must demonstrate that
he or she * * *

From
January
1, 2002,
through
December
8, 2008,
in * * *

directed Pacific cod
fishery

Gulf of
Alaska

Alaska.

(K) Catcher/
Processor
vessel
designation

any

hook-and- legally landed at least 50
line gear
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Central
Gulf of
Alaska

hook-and-line gear
in the Central Gulf
of Alaska.

(L) Catcher/
Processor
vessel
designation

any

hook-and- legally landed at least 50
line gear
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Western
Gulf of
Alaska

hook-and-line gear
in the Western
Gulf of Alaska.

(M) Catcher/
Processor
vessel
designation

any

pot gear

legally landed at least 50
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Central
Gulf of
Alaska

pot gear in the
Central Gulf of
Alaska.

(N) Catcher/
Processor
vessel
designation

any

pot gear

legally landed at least 50
mt of Pacific cod in the
directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Central
Gulf of
Alaska

pot gear in the
Central Gulf of
Alaska.

(O) Catcher/
Processor
vessel
designation

any

jig gear

at least one legal landing
in the directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Central
Gulf of
Alaska

jig gear in the
Central Gulf of
Alaska.

(P) Catcher/
Processor
vessel
designation

any

jig gear

at least one legal landing
in the directed Pacific cod
fishery

the
Western
Gulf of
Alaska

jig gear in the
Western Gulf of
Alaska.

(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.

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50 CFR 679.4(k)(10)(iii)(C)

(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
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(10)(vi)

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;
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(10)(vi)(C)(6)

(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
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(10)(vi)(G)

months after April 21, 2011, NMFS will issue an equal number of pot gear and hookand-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-andline 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

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50 CFR 679.4(k)(10)(vii)(D)

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
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50 CFR 679.4(k)(11)

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.

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(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.

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50 CFR 679.4(k)(14)(vi)(B)(1)

(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.

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50 CFR 679.4(k)(14)(vi)(E)

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.

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(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).

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50 CFR 679.4(k)(15)(v)(D)

(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,

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(i)

50 CFR 679.4(l)(1)(ii)(B)(3)(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);

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(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 —

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(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):
AMERICAN CHALLENGER (USCG documentation number 633219);
FORUM STAR (USCG documentation number 925863);
MUIR MILACH (USCG documentation number 611524);
NEAHKAHNIE (USCG documentation number 599534);
OCEAN HARVESTER (USCG documentation number 549892);
SEA STORM (USCG documentation number 628959);
TRACY ANNE (USCG documentation number 904859); or
(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);
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50 CFR 679.4(l)(3)(i)(B)(1)(xi)

(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:
HAZEL LORRAINE (USCG documentation number 592211),
LISA MARIE (USCG documentation number 1038717),
PROVIDIAN (USCG documentation number 1062183); or
(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
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(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);

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50 CFR 679.4(l)(4)(i)(B)

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 roundweight 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.

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50 CFR 679.4(l)(5)(iii)(B)

(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.

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50 CFR 679.4(l)(5)(v)(B)(3)

(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

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50 CFR 679.4(l)(6)(ii)(D)

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:

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(i)

50 CFR 679.4(l)(6)(ii)(D)(4)(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

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50 CFR 679.4(l)(7)(i)(B)

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).

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50 CFR 679.4(l)(7)(ii)(E)

(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

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50 CFR 679.4(l)(8)(ii)

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.
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(i)

50 CFR 679.4(m)(3)(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).

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(i)

50 CFR 679.4(n)(1)(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.

50 CFR 679.4(o)(1)(vi) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(o)(1)(vii)

(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

50 CFR 679.4(o)(3)(i)(A) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(o)(3)(i)(B)

(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 —
50 CFR 679.4(o)(5) (enhanced display)

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(i)

50 CFR 679.4(o)(5)(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;

50 CFR 679.4(p)(3)(ii) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.4(p)(3)(iii)

(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.

50 CFR 679.4(q)(2) (enhanced display)

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(i)

50 CFR 679.4(q)(2)(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.
[61 FR 31230, June 19, 1996]

Editorial Note: For FEDERAL REGISTER citations affecting § 679.4, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which
appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

§ 679.5 Recordkeeping and reporting (R&R).
Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 38314, June 25, 2026.
(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.

If harvest made under . . . program
(A) Western Alaska Community
Development Quota (CDQ)

50 CFR 679.5(a)(1)(iii) (enhanced display)

Record the . . .
CDQ number

For more
information,
see . . .
subpart C of this part

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50 CFR 679.5(a)(2)

If harvest made under . . . program

Record the . . .

For more
information,
see . . .

(B) Exempted Fishery

Exempted fishery permit
number

§ 679.6

(C) Research Fishery

Research fishery permit
number

§ 600.745(a) of this
chapter

(D) Aleutian Islands Pollock (AIP)

n/a

subpart F of this part

(E) Open access (OA)

[for recording in eLandings
only]

paragraph (e) of this
section

(F) Rockfish Program

Cooperative number

subpart H to this
part.

(G) PCTC Program

Cooperative number

subpart L to this
part.

(H) Trawl EM Category (TEM)

Management program
modifier as TEM

§ 679.51.

(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;
50 CFR 679.5(a)(3)(ii) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.5(a)(3)(iii)

(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.
50 CFR 679.5(a)(6) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.5(a)(7)

(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 customprocessed 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:
50 CFR 679.5(c)(1)(vi)(B) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(1)(vi)(B)

Logsheet Distribution and Submittal
Logsheets found in
these logbooks

If
logsheet CV
CP
CV
CP
color is ... lgl/
lgl/
MS
trw
trw
pot
pot
(1) White

X

X

X

X

X

(2)
X
Goldenrod

X

X

X

X

(3) Yellow

X

(4) Blue

X

(5) Green

X

Submit to ...

Time limit

Must retain, permanently bound in logbook
Observer

After signature of operator and prior to departure of observer from the vessel.

X

Must submit quarterly to:
NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement Alaska Region
Logbook Program, P.O. Box 21767, Juneau, AK 99802-1767
Telephone: 907-586-7225

On the following schedule:
1st quarter by May 1 of that fishing year. 2nd quarter by August 1 of that fishing
year. 3rd quarter by November 1 of that fishing year. 4th quarter by February 1
of the following fishing year.

X

Mothership, shoreside processor, SFP, buying station, or
tender vessel that receives the harvest

Within 2 hours after completion of catch delivery

Optional, but may be required by IPHC (see §§ 300.60
through 300.65 of this chapter)

If required, after the vessel's catch is off-loaded

X

Note: CP = catcher/processor; CV = catcher vessel; pot = longline pot or pot-and-line; lgl = longline; trw = trawl; MS = mothership.

50 CFR 679.5(c)(1)(vi)(B) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(2)

(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:

Paragraph

Fishing Category

(c)(3)(iv)(A)(1)

Catcher vessel, longline or pot gear

(c)(3)(iv)(B)(1)

Catcher/processor, longline or pot gear

(c)(4)(iv)(A)(1)

Catcher vessel, trawl gear

(c)(4)(iv)(B)(1)

Catcher/processor, trawl gear

(c)(5)(ii)

Shoreside processor or SFP

(c)(6)(iv)

Mothership

(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 —
50 CFR 679.5(c)(3) (enhanced display)

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Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

(i)

50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(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 hookand-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

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(i)(C)

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:

REPORTING TIME LIMITS, CATCHER VESSEL LONGLINE OR POT GEAR
Required information

Time limit for
recording

(1) FFP number and/or Federal crab vessel permit number (if applicable), IFQ Within 2 hours after
permit numbers (halibut, sablefish, and crab), CDQ group number, halibut
completion of gear
CDQ permit number, set number, date and time gear set, date and time gear
retrieval.
hauled, beginning and end positions of set, number of skates or pots set, and
estimated total hail weight for each set
(2) Discard and disposition information

By 2400 hours,
A.l.t., each day to
record the previous
day's discard and
disposition
information.

(3) Submit the blue DFL to mothership, shoreside processor, SFP, buying
station, or tender vessel receiving catch

Within 2 hours after
completion of catch
delivery

(4) All other required information

Within 2 hours after
the vessel's catch is
off-loaded,
notwithstanding
other time limits

(5) Operator sign the completed logsheets

Within 2 hours after
completion of catch
delivery

(6) Submit goldenrod logsheet to the observer

After signature of
operator and prior
to departure of
observer from the

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(ii)(B)

REPORTING TIME LIMITS, CATCHER VESSEL LONGLINE OR POT GEAR
Time limit for
recording

Required information

vessel.

(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:

REPORTING TIME LIMITS, CATCHER/PROCESSOR LONGLINE OR POT GEAR
Required information
(1) FFP number and/or Federal crab vessel permit number
(if applicable), IFQ permit numbers (halibut, sablefish, and
crab), CDQ group number, halibut CDQ permit number, set
number, date and time gear set, date and time gear hauled,
beginning and end positions of set, number of skates or
pots set, and estimated total hail weight for each set

Record
Submit
In
via
DCPL eLandings
X

Time limit for
reporting
Within 2 hours
after
completion of
gear retrieval.

(2) Discard and disposition information

X

By 2400 hours,
A.l.t., each day
to record the
previous day's
discard and
disposition
information

(3) Product information

X

By 2400 hours,
A.l.t., each day
to record the
previous day's
production
information

(4) All other required information

X

By 2400 hours,
A.l.t., of the
day following
completion of
production.

(5) Operator sign the completed logsheets

X

By 2400 hours,
A.l.t., of the
day following

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(iii)

REPORTING TIME LIMITS, CATCHER/PROCESSOR LONGLINE OR POT GEAR
Required information

Record
Submit
In
via
DCPL eLandings

Time limit for
reporting
the weekending date of
the weekly
reporting
period.

(6) Submit goldenrod logsheet to the observer

X

After signature
of operator
and prior to
departure of
observer from
the vessel

(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.

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(iv)(B)(2)

(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.

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(v)(G)

(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.

If gear
type is . . .

Then . . .

(1) Other
gear

If gear is other than those listed within this table, indicate “Other” and describe.

(2) Pot
gear
(includes
pot-andline and
longline
pot)

(i) If using longline pot gear in the GOA or while directed fishing for Greenland turbot in
the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI, enter the length of longline pot set to the nearest
foot, the size of pot in inches (width by length by height or diameter), and spacing of
pots to the nearest foot.

(ii) If using longline pot gear in the GOA or while directed fishing for Greenland turbot
in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI, enter the number of pots deployed in each set
(see paragraph (c)(3)(vi)(F) of this section) and the number of pots lost when the set
is retrieved (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations see §§ 300.60 through
300.65 of this title).
(iii) If using pot gear, enter the number of pots deployed in each set (see paragraph
(c)(3)(vi)(F) of this section) and the number of pots lost when the set is retrieved
(optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations, see §§ 300.60 through 300.65 of
this title).
(3) Hookand-line
gear

Indicate: (i) Whether gear is fixed hook (conventional or tub), autoline, or snap
(optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations, see §§ 300.60 through 300.65 of
this title).
(ii) Number of hooks per skate (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations, see
§§ 300.60 through 300.65 of this title), length of skate to the nearest foot (optional,
but may be required by IPHC regulations, see §§ 300.60 through 300.65 of this title),
size of hooks, and hook spacing in feet.
(iii) Enter the number of skates set and number of skates lost (optional, but may be
required by IPHC regulations, see §§ 300.60 through 300.65 of this title).
(iv) Seabird avoidance gear code(s) (see § 679.24(e) and Table 19 to this part).
(v) Enter the number of mammals sighted while hauling gear next to the mammal
name: Sperm, orca, and other (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations, see
§§ 300.60 through 300.65 of this title).
(vi) Enter the number of sablefish, halibut, other fish, or hooks damaged found while
hauling gear (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations, see §§ 300.60

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If gear
type is . . .

50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(v)(H)

Then . . .
through 300.65 of this title).

(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)).
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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(vi)(E)

(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.

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.5(c)(3)(viii)(A)(3)

(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 —

50 CFR 679.5(c)(4)(ii) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.5(c)(4)(ii)(A)

(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:

REPORTING TIME LIMITS, CATCHER VESSEL TRAWL GEAR
Required information

Time limit for recording

(1) Haul number, time and date gear
set, time and date gear hauled,
beginning and end positions, CDQ
number (if applicable), total
estimated hail weight for each haul

Within 2 hours after completion of gear retrieval, except that
catcher vessels harvesting pollock CDQ in the BS and
delivering unsorted codends to a mothership must record
CDQ number within 2 hours after completion of weighing all
catch in the haul on the mothership

(2) Discard and disposition
information

By 2400 hours, A.l.t., each day to record the previous day's
discard and disposition information.

(3) Submit blue DFL to mothership,
shoreside processor, SFP, buying
station, or tender vessel receiving
the catch

Within 2 hours after completion of catch delivery

(4) Record all other required
information

Within 2 hours after the vessel's catch is off-loaded,
notwithstanding other time limits

(5) Operator sign the completed
logsheets

Within 2 hours after completion of catch delivery

(6) Submit the goldenrod logsheet
to the observer

After signature of operator and prior to departure of
observer from the vessel.

(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:

REPORTING TIME LIMITS, CATCHER/PROCESSOR TRAWL GEAR
Required information

Record
Submit
In
via
DCPL eLandings

Time limit for
recording

(1) Management program, except CDQ Program, haul
number, time and date gear set, time and date gear
hauled, begin and end positions of gear, and, if not
required to weigh catch on a scale approved by
NMFS, total estimated hail weight for each haul

X

Within 2 hours after
completion of gear
retrieval.

(2) CDQ number (if applicable) and, if required to
weigh catch on a scale approved by NMFS, the scale
weight of total catch for each haul

X

Within 2 hours after
completion of
weighing all catch in
the haul.

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.5(c)(4)(iii)

REPORTING TIME LIMITS, CATCHER/PROCESSOR TRAWL GEAR
Required information

Record
Submit
In
via
DCPL eLandings

Time limit for
recording

(3) Discard and disposition information

X

By 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
each day to record
the previous day's
discard and
disposition
information.

(4) Product information

X

By 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
each day to record
the previous day's
production
information

(5) All other required information

X

By 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
of the day following
completion of
production to record
all other required
information.

(6) Operator sign the completed logsheets

X

By 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
of the day following
the week-ending date
of the weekly
reporting period

(7) Submit the goldenrod logsheet to the observer

X

After signature of
operator and prior to
departure of observer
from the vessel.

(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.

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(4)(iv)(B)(1)

(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).

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(4)(vi)

(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 NMFSapproved 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.

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(I)

50 CFR 679.5(c)(4)(vi)(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.)
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(i)

50 CFR 679.5(c)(5)(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:

REPORTING TIME LIMITS, MOTHERSHIP
Required information
(A) All catcher vessel or
tender vessel delivery
information

Record
Submit
In
via
DCPL eLandings
X

Time limit for reporting
Within 2 hours after completion of receipt of
each groundfish delivery.

(B) Product information

X

By 2400 hours, A.l.t., each day to record the
previous day's production information

(C) Discard or disposition
information

X

By 2400 hours, A.l.t., each day to record the
previous day's discard/disposition

(D) All other required
information

X

By 2400 hours, A.l.t., of the day following
completion of production

(E) Operator sign the
completed logsheets

X

By 2400 hours, A.l.t., of the day following the
week-ending date of the weekly reporting
period.

(F) Submit the goldenrod
logsheet to the observer

X

After signed by the operator and prior to
departure of observer from the mothership.

(iii) Required information, if inactive. See paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(6)(iv)

(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.”

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(6)(vi)(A)

(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 nonsubmittal.

NON-SUBMITTAL OF DISCARD REPORT

CODE

(1) The catcher vessel does not have an FFP

“P”

(2) The catcher vessel is under 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and does not have an FFP

“P”

(3) The catcher vessel is under 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and has an FFP

“L”

(4) The catcher vessel delivered an unsorted codend

“U”

(5) Another reason; describe circumstances

“O”

(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.

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50 CFR 679.5(c)(6)(vii)

(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.
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50 CFR 679.5(e)(1)(iii)(C)

(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.
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50 CFR 679.5(e)(3)(vii)

(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.

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50 CFR 679.5(e)(5)(i)(A)(7)

(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:

NON-SUBMITTAL OF DISCARD REPORT

CODE

(i) The catcher vessel does not have an FFP

“P”

(ii) The catcher vessel is under 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and does not have an FFP

“P”

(iii) The catcher vessel is under 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and has an FFP

“L”

(iv) The catcher vessel delivered an unsorted codend

“U”

(v) Another reason; describe circumstances

“O”

(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
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(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.

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50 CFR 679.5(e)(6)(i)(A)(8)

(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.

NON-SUBMITTAL OF DISCARD REPORT

CODE

(i) The catcher vessel does not have an FFP

“P”

(ii) The catcher vessel is under 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and does not have an FFP

“P”

(iii) The catcher vessel is under 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and has an FFP

“L”

(iv) The catcher vessel delivered an unsorted codend

“U”

(v) Another reason; describe circumstances

“O”

(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).

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(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.

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50 CFR 679.5(e)(7)(i)(E)(8)

(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 NMFSapproved software for each IFQ crab delivery:
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50 CFR 679.5(e)(8)(iii)(A)

(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:

CR CRAB REGIONAL DESIGNATIONS
N—North
Region

Landed in the Bering Sea subarea north of 56°20′ N. lat.

S—South
Region

Landed in any area in Alaska, not in the North Region.

W—West
Region

West of 174° W. long. Only applicable for western Aleutian Islands golden king
crab (WAG).

(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 —
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50 CFR 679.5(e)(8)(iii)(D)(1)

(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.

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50 CFR 679.5(e)(9)(i)(C)

(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).
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50 CFR 679.5(e)(10)(iii)(H)

(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 nonsalmon 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.

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50 CFR 679.5(e)(11)(ii)

(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.
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50 CFR 679.5(e)(14)(v)

(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 NMFSapproved catcher/processor trawl gear ELB and eLandings to record and report groundfish
information. In the ELB, the operator may enter processor identification information and catchby-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

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50 CFR 679.5(f)(1)(vi)

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-byhaul 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 —
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50 CFR 679.5(f)(2)(iii)(A)

(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.

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(i)

50 CFR 679.5(f)(5)(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 (PTR) —
(1) General requirements. Except as provided in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) through (v) of this section, the
operator or manager must record on a PTR 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 PTR for
each shipment of groundfish and donated prohibited species caught in groundfish fisheries. A
PTR is not required to accompany a shipment.

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50 CFR 679.5(g)(1)(ii)

(ii) IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, and CDQ halibut. A Registered Buyer must submit a separate PTR 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 PTR is not required to accompany a
shipment.
(iii) CR crab. A Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) must submit a separate PTR 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 PTR 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 PTR 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 PTR 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 PTR 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 PTR, 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 PTR. 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.

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50 CFR 679.5(g)(2)(iv)(D)

(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 PTR 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 PTR 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 PTR within 2 hours of the completion of the
shipment.

(ii) Submit a PTR 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 PTR changes prior to the first destination of the shipment,
submit a revised PTR 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 PTR:
(i)

Original or revised PTR. Whether a submittal is an original or revised PTR.

(ii) Shipper information. Name, telephone number, and facsimile number of the representative.
According to the following table:

If you are shipping . . .

Enter under “Shipper” . . .

(A) Non-IFQ groundfish

Your processor's name, Federal fisheries or Federal processor
permit number.

(B) IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or
IFQ sablefish

Your Registered Buyer name and permit number.

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50 CFR 679.5(g)(4)(iii)

If you are shipping . . .

Enter under “Shipper” . . .

(C) CR crab

Your RCR name and permit number.

(D) Non-IFQ groundfish, IFQ
halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ
sablefish, and CR crab on the
same PTR

(1) Your processor's name and Federal fisheries permit number or
Federal processor permit number, (2) Your Registered Buyer's
name and permit number, and (3) Your RCR name and permit
number.

(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:

Then enter . . .
If you are the
shipper and . . .

Receiver

Date &
time of
product
transfer

Mode of
Location of
transportation
product
and intended
transfer
route

(A) Receiver is on land and transfer
involves one van, truck, or vehicle

Receiver name
and Federal
fisheries,
Federal
processor, or
Federal crab
vessel permit
number (if any)

Date and
Port or city
time when of product
shipment transfer
leaves the
plant

Name of the
shipping
company;
destination
city and state
or foreign
country.

(B) Receiver is on land and transfer
involves multiple vans, trucks or
vehicles

Receiver name
and Federal
fisheries,
Federal
processor, or
Federal crab
vessel permit
number (if any)

Date and
Port or city
time when of product
loading of transfer
vans or
trucks, is
completed
each day

Name of the
shipping
company;
destination
city and state
or foreign
country.

(C) Receiver is on land and transfer
involves one airline flight

Receiver name
and Federal
fisheries,
Federal
processor, or
Federal crab
vessel permit
number (if any)

Date and
Port or city
time when of product
shipment transfer
leaves the
plant

Name of the
airline
company;
destination
airport city
and state.

(D) Receiver is on land and transfer

Receiver name

Date and

Name of the

50 CFR 679.5(g)(4)(iii) (enhanced display)

Port or city

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50 CFR 679.5(g)(4)(iii)

Then enter . . .

Receiver

Date &
time of
product
transfer

Mode of
Location of
transportation
product
and intended
transfer
route

involves multiple airline flights

and Federal
fisheries,
Federal
processor, or
Federal crab
vessel permit
number (if any)

time of
shipment
when the
last airline
flight of
the day
leaves

of product
transfer

(E) Receiver is a vessel and transfer
occurs at sea

Vessel name
and call sign

Start and
finish
dates and
times of
transfer

Transfer
The first
position
destination of
coordinates the vessel.
in latitude
and
longitude,
in degrees
and
minutes

(F) Receiver is a vessel and transfer
takes place in port

Vessel name
and call sign

Start and
finish
dates and
times of
transfer

Port or
position of
product
transfer

The first
destination of
the vessel.

(G) Receiver is an agent (buyer,
distributor, shipping agent) and
transfer is in a containerized van(s)

Agent name
and location
(city, state)

Transfer
start and
finish
dates and
times

Port, city, or
position of
product
transfer

Name (if
available) of
the vessel
transporting
the van;
destination
port.

(H) You are aggregating individual
retail sales for human consumption.
(see paragraph (g)(2) of this section)

“RETAIL
SALES”

Date of
transfer.

Port or city
of product
transfer

N/A.

(I) You are aggregating individual bait
sales during a day onto one PTR (nonIFQ groundfish only)

“BAIT SALES”

Date of
transfer.

Port or city
of product
transfer

N/A.

(J) Non-IFQ Groundfish only. You are
aggregating wholesale non-IFQ
groundfish product sales by species
during a single day onto one PTR and
maintaining invoices detailing
destinations for all of the product for

“WHOLESALE
SALES”

Time of
Port or city
the first
of product
sale of the transfer
day; time
of the last
sale of the

N/A.

If you are the
shipper and . . .

50 CFR 679.5(g)(4)(iii) (enhanced display)

airline
company(s);
destination
airport(s) city
and state.

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50 CFR 679.5(g)(4)(iv)

Then enter . . .
If you are the
shipper and . . .

Receiver

inspection by an authorized officer

Date &
time of
product
transfer

Mode of
Location of
transportation
product
and intended
transfer
route

day

(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.
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50 CFR 679.5(h)(2)

(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:

For ...
(i) Each
reporting
area,
except area
300, 400,
550, or 690

If you
are a ...
(A) C/P
using
trawl
gear

Submit a BEGIN message

Submit a CEASE message

Before gear deployment.

Within 24 hours after departing a
reporting area but prior to
checking in to another reporting
area.

(B) C/P Before gear deployment. May be
using
checked in to more than one area
longline simultaneously.
or pot
gear

Upon completion of gear retrieval
and within 24 hours after
departing each reporting area.

(C) MS

Within 24 hours after receipt of
fish is complete from that

Before receiving groundfish, must
check-in to reporting area(s) where

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For ...

(ii) COBLZ
or RKCSA

(iii) Gear
Type

(iv) CDQ

(v)
Exempted
or
Research
Fishery

If you
are a ...

50 CFR 679.5(h)(4)

Submit a BEGIN message

Submit a CEASE message

groundfish were harvested.
May be checked in to more than one
area simultaneously.

reporting area.
If receipt of groundfish from a
reporting area is expected to stop
for at least one month during the
fishing year and then start up
again, may submit check-out
report for that reporting area.

(A) C/P
using
trawl
gear

Prior to fishing. Submit one check-in
for the COBLZ or RKCSA and another
check-in for the area outside the
COBLZ or RKCSA.

Upon completion of gear retrieval
for groundfish, submit a separate
check-out for the COBLZ or RKCSA
and another check-out for the area
outside the COBLZ or RKCSA.

(B) MS

Before receiving groundfish harvested
with trawl gear that were harvested in
the COBLZ or RKCSA, submit one
check-in for the COBLZ or RKCSA and
another check-in for the area outside
the COBLZ or RKCSA.

Upon completion of groundfish
receipt, submit a separate checkout for the COBLZ or RKCSA and
another check-out for the area
outside the COBLZ or RKCSA.

(A) C/P

If in the same reporting area but using
more than one gear type, prior to
fishing submit a separate check-in for
each gear type.

Upon completion of gear retrieval
for groundfish, submit a separate
check-out for each gear type for
which a check-in was submitted.

(B) MS

If harvested in the same reporting area
but using more than one gear type,
prior to receiving groundfish submit a
separate check-in for each gear type.

Upon completion of receipt of
groundfish, submit a separate
check-out for each gear type for
which a check-in was submitted.

(A) MS

Prior to receiving groundfish CDQ, if
receiving groundfish under more than
one CDQ number, use a separate
check-in for each CDQ number.

Within 24 hours after receipt of
groundfish CDQ has ceased for
each CDQ number.

(B) C/P

Prior to fishing, submit a separate
check-in for each CDQ number.

Within 24 hours after groundfish
CDQ fishing for each CDQ number
has ceased.

(A) C/P

Prior to fishing, submit a separate
check-in for each type.

Upon completion of receipt of
groundfish submit a separate
check-out for each type for which
a check-in was submitted.

(B) MS

Prior to receiving groundfish, submit a
separate check-in for each type.

Upon completion of receipt of
groundfish submit a separate
check-out for each type for which
a check-in was submitted.

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Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

For ...
(vi)
Aleutian
Islands
Pollock
(AIP)

(vii)
Processor
Type

If you
are a ...

Submit a BEGIN message

50 CFR 679.5(h)(4)

Submit a CEASE message

(A) C/P

Prior to AIP fishing.

Within 24 hours after completion
of gear retrieval for AIP.

(B) MS

Before receiving AIP.

Within 24 hours after receipt of
AIP has ceased.

C/P, MS If a catcher/processor and functioning
simultaneously as a mothership in the
same reporting area, before
functioning as either processor type.

Upon completion of simultaneous
activity as both catcher/processor
and mothership, a separate checkout, one for catcher/processor and
one for mothership.

(viii)
(A) C/P,
Change of MS
fishing year

If continually active through the end of
one fishing year and at the beginning
of a second fishing year, submit a
check-in for each reporting area to
start the year on January 1.

If a check-out report was not
previously submitted during a
fishing year for a reporting area,
submit a check-out report for each
reporting area on December 31.

(B) SS,
SFP

If continually active through the end of
one fishing year and at the beginning
of a second fishing year, submit a
check-in to start the year on January 1.

If a check-out report was not
previously submitted during a
fishing year, submit a check-out
report on December 31.

(ix)
SS, SFP, n/a
Interruption MS
of
production

If receipt of groundfish is expected
to stop for at least one month
during the fishing year and then
start up again, the manager or
operator may choose to submit a
check-out report.

(x) Change
of location

Upon completion of receipt of
groundfish from a position and
before movement from that

AFA
SFP

Before receiving groundfish.

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

For ...

If you
are a ...

50 CFR 679.5(h)(5)

Submit a BEGIN message

Submit a CEASE message
position.

(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.

Check-in
Report

Required information

Check-out
Report

MS C/P

SS,
SS,
MS C/P
SFP
SFP

(i) Whether an original or revised report

X

X

X

(ii) Vessel name, ADF&G processor code, FFP number

X

X

(iii) Processor name, ADF&G processor code, FPP number

X

X

X

X

X

(iv) Representative name, business telephone number, business
fax number

X

X

(v) COMSAT number (if applicable)

X

(vi) Management program name (see paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this
section) and identifying number (if any). If harvest is not under
one of these management programs, leave blank.
(vii) Processor type, gear type

X

X
X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

(viii) Date (mm/dd/yyyy) and time (A.l.t., military format)
(A) When receipt of groundfish will begin

X

(B) When gear deployment will begin

X
X

(C) When the last receipt or processing of groundfish was
completed

X

(D) When the vessel departed the reporting area

X
X

(ix) Position coordinates
(A) Where groundfish receipt begins

X

(B) Where receiving groundfish (if SFP):

X

(C) Where gear is deployed

X

(D) Where the last receipt of groundfish was completed

X

(E) Where the vessel departed the reporting area

X

(x) Reporting area code
(A) Where gear deployment begins
(B) Where groundfish harvest occurred

50 CFR 679.5(h)(5) (enhanced display)

X
X

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.5(i)

Check-in
Report

Required information

MS C/P

Check-out
Report

SS,
SS,
MS C/P
SFP
SFP

(C) Where the last receipt of groundfish was completed

X

(D) Where the vessel departed the reporting area

X

(xi) Primary and secondary target species (A change in intended target species within the same
reporting area does not require a new BEGIN message.)
(A) Expected to be received the following week

X

(B) Expected to be harvested the following week

X

(xii) Indicate (YES or NO) whether this is a check-in report

X

(xiii) If YES, indicate
(A) If checking-in for the first time this fishing year

X

(B) If checking-in to restart receipt and processing of groundfish
after filing a check-out report

X

(xiv) Indicate (YES or NO) whether this is a check-out report

X

(xv) If YES, enter date facility ceased to receive or process
groundfish

X

(xvi) Indicate product weight of all fish or fish products
(including non groundfish) remaining at the facility (other than
public cold storage) by species code and product code. Indicate
if recorded to the nearest pound or to the nearest 0.001 mt.

X

X

(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.
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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
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50 CFR 679.5(k)(3)

(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).

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

(l)

50 CFR 679.5(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.

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.5(l)(1)(iv)(B)

(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.
50 CFR 679.5(l)(4) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

(i)

50 CFR 679.5(l)(4)(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;

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50 CFR Part 679 (up to date as of 7/15/2026)
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska

50 CFR 679.5(l)(4)(ii)(D)

(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