Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/140

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

118 STAT. 110 PUBLIC LAW 108–199—JAN. 23, 2004 holding individual processing quota, and the provisions of sub paragraphs (D), (E), and (L) of section 307(l) shall apply to any facility owned or controlled by a person holding individual processing quota.’’. SEC. 802. GULF OF ALASKA ROCKFISH DEMONSTRATION PRO GRAM. The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, shall establish a pilot program that recognizes the historic participation of fishing vessels (1996 to 2002, best 5 of 7 years) and historic participation of fish proc essors (1996 to 2000, best 4 of 5 years) for pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish harvested in Central Gulf of Alaska. Such a pilot program shall: (1) provide for a set aside of up to 5 percent for the total allowable catch of such fisheries for catcher vessels not eligible to participate in the pilot program, which shall be delivered to shore based fish processors not eligible to participate in the pilot program; and (2) establish catch limits for non rockfish species and non target rockfish species currently harvested with pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish, which shall be based on historical har vesting of such bycatch species. The pilot program will sunset when a Gulf of Alaska Groundfish comprehensive rationalization plan is authorized by the Council and implemented by the Secretary, or 2 years from date of implementation, whichever is earlier. SEC. 803. ALEUTIAN ISLANDS FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT. (a) ALEUTIAN ISLANDS POLLOCK ALLOCATION.—Effective January 1, 2004 and thereafter, the directed pollock fishery in the Aleutian Islands Subarea [AI] of the BSAI (as defined in 50 CFR 679.2) shall be allocated to the Aleut Corporation (incorporated pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)). Except with the permission of the Aleut Corporation or its authorized agent, the fishing or processing of any part of such allocation shall be prohibited by section 307 of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857), subject to the penalties and sanctions under section 308 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 1858), and subject to the forfeiture of any fish harvested or processed. (b) ELIGIBLE VESSELS.—Only vessels that are 60 feet or less in length overall and have a valid fishery endorsement, or vessels that are eligible to harvest pollock under section 208 of title II of division C of Public Law 105–277, shall be eligible to form partnerships with the Aleut Corporation (or its authorized agents) to harvest the allocation under subsection (a). During the years 2004 through 2008, up to 25 percent of such allocation may be harvested by vessels 60 feet or less in length overall. During the years 2009 through 2013, up to 50 percent of such allocation may be harvested by vessels 60 feet or less in length overall. After the year 2012, 50 percent of such allocation shall be harvested by vessels 60 feet or less in length overall, and 50 percent shall be harvested by vessels eligible under such section of Public Law 105–277. (c) GROUNDFISH OPTIMUM YIELD LIMITATION.—The optimum yield for groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Manage ment Area shall not exceed 2 million metric tons. For the purposes of implementing subsections (a) and (b) without adversely affecting current fishery participants, the allocation under subsection (a) may be in addition to such optimum yield during the years 2004 through 2008 upon recommendation by the North Pacific Council Effective date. 16 USC 1851 note. 16 USC 1851 note.