[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 6, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 63038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22000]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 200221-0062]
RTID 0648-XA516


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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 retention of Pacific cod by catcher 
vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2020 total allowable 
catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl 
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 1, 
2020, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Milani, 907-581-2062.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 cod allocated to catcher vessels using 
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,567 metric 
tons (mt) as established by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest 
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2020 TAC 
of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that Pacific cod caught by catcher vessels using trawl gear 
in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited 
species in accordance with Sec.  679.21(a)(2). This closure does not 
apply to fishing by vessels participating in the cooperative fishery in 
the Rockfish Program for the Central GOA.

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 prohibiting the retention of 
Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice 
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant 
data only became available as of September 29, 2020.

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

    Dated: September 30, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-22000 Filed 10-1-20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P