[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05652]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 210217-0022; RTID 0648-XA946]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear 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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by American 
Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary 
because the Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to AFA trawl 
catcher/processors in the BSAI has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 15, 
2021, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2021.

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 2021 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to AFA trawl 
catcher/processors is 2,571 metric tons (mt) as established by the 
final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the Pacific 
cod total allowable catch allocated to the AFA trawl catcher/processors 
in the BSAI has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that Pacific 
cod caught by AFA trawl catcher/processors in the BSAI be treated as 
prohibited species in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b).

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 retention of 
Pacific cod by AFA trawl catcher/processors in 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 March 12, 
2021.

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

    Dated: March 15, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-05652 Filed 3-15-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P