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DOC/NOAA RIN: 0648-BD23 Publication ID: Fall 2014 
Title: Amendment 105 Bering Sea Flatfish Harvest Specifications Flexibility 
Abstract: This action intends to provide additional harvest opportunities to participants in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) flatfish fisheries while (1) maintaining catch below the annual catch limits for these species, and (2) ensuring that the maximum optimum yield for BSAI groundfish fisheries will not be exceeded. Specifically, Amendment 105 to the BSAI Fishery Management Plan would establish a process for Amendment 80 cooperatives and Western Alaska Community Development Quota groups to exchange harvest quota from one of the three flatfish species for an equivalent amount of quota of another species. In no case could the amount of fish exchanged exceed the annual catch limit, commonly known as the allowable biological catch, of that species. This action would modify the annual harvest specification process to allow the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to establish the maximum amount of harvest quota that can be exchanged for each of the three flatfish species. This process would allow the Council to establish a buffer below the allowable biological catch to account for management or socioeconomic considerations. Each participant could only exchange harvest quota up to three times per year. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the BSAI Fishery Management Plan, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable laws. 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679   
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Notice  06/13/2014  79 FR 33889   
NPRM  06/30/2014  79 FR 36702   
Final Action  12/00/2014 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: Organizations  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes 
Agency Contact:
James Balsiger
Regional Administrator, Alaska Region
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
709 West Ninth Street,
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone:907 586-7221
Email: jim.balsiger@noaa.gov