[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 28, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22361-22362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08824]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 210217-0022]
RTID 0648-XB042


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland 
Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of 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 Greenland turbot in 
the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 2021 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2021, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allyson Olds, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI 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

[[Page 22362]]

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 Greenland turbot ITAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of 
the BSAI is 765 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2021 and 
2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449, 
February 25, 2021). The Regional Administrator has determined that the 
2021 ITAC for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the 
BSAI is necessary to account for the incidental catch of this species 
in other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2021 fishing year. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowance for Greenland 
turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI as zero mt. 
Consequently, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian 
Islands subarea of the BSAI.
    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 Greenland 
turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea 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 April 22, 2021.

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

    Dated: April 23, 2021.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-08824 Filed 4-27-21; 8:45 am]
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