[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 11, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17522]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 200227-0066; RTID 0648-XA351]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch 
in the Western Aleutian district (WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI 
trawl limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to 
prevent exceeding the 2020 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean 
perch in the WAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector fishery.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 6, 2020, 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with 
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 2020 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, in the WAI, allocated to 
vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery 
was established as a directed fishing allowance of 178 metric tons by 
the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific 
ocean perch in the WAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 
limited access section fishery. While this closure is effective, the 
maximum retainable amounts at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time 
during a trip.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was 
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under 
Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice 
and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest, 
as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries 
data in a timely fashion and would delay the closure of directed 
fishing of Pacific ocean perch in the WAI of the BSAI. NMFS was unable 
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as of July 29, 2020.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 6, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-17522 Filed 8-6-20; 4:15 pm]
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