[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 135 (Monday, July 17, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45371-45372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15060]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 230224-0053; RTID 0648-XD057]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Longnose 
Skates in the Eastern 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 longnose skates in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary because

[[Page 45372]]

the 2023 total allowable catch of longnose skates in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 12, 2023, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2023.

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 part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 2023 total allowable catch (TAC) of longnose skates in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA is 517 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the GOA (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2023 TAC 
of longnose skates in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has been 
reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that longnose skates in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in 
accordance with Sec.  679.21(a)(2).

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 
longnose skates in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was 
unable to publish a notification providing time for public comment 
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of July 
11, 2023.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), 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: July 12, 2023.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-15060 Filed 7-12-23; 4:15 pm]
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