[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65175-65176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23526]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 220216-0049]
RTID 0648-XC499


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker 
Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Areas 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 shortraker rockfish in the 
Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2022 total allowable catch of 
shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 12 p.m., Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 25, 2022, 
through 12 a.m., A.l.t., December 31, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

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 parts 600 and 679.
    The 2022 total allowable catch (TAC) of shortraker rockfish in the 
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 280 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the final 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the GOA (87 FR 11599, March 2, 2022).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2022 
shortraker rockfish TAC in the Central Regulatory

[[Page 65176]]

Areas of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring 
that shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA be 
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b), as 
described under Sec.  679.21(a), for the remainder of the year, except 
shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA caught 
by catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear as described 
in Sec.  679.20(j). This action does not apply to fishing by trawl 
catcher/processors 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 retention of 
shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Areas 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 
October 24, 2022.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA also finds good 
cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons 
provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment.

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

    Dated: October 25, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-23526 Filed 10-25-22; 4:15 pm]
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