[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 84754-84758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26639]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 231129-0281; RTID 0648-XC365]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; Revised Final 2023 and 2024 Harvest 
Specifications for Groundfish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes revisions to the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications for the 2024 groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) that are required by the final 
rule implementing Amendment 122 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 
(FMP). This action is necessary to revise the 2024 trawl catcher vessel 
sector's Pacific cod allocation of the total allowable catch and 
associated halibut and crab prohibited species catch (PSC) limits in 
the BSAI. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage 
the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the FMP and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act).

DATES: The final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for 2024 and 
associated apportionment of reserves are effective at 0001 hours, 
Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2024, until the effective date 
of the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish, 
which are anticipated to be published in the Federal Register in early 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest 
Specifications Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of Decision 
(ROD), the annual Supplementary Information Reports (SIRs) to the EIS, 
and the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for the 
final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications are available from the NMFS 
Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska. 
The 2022 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the 
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated November 2022, and SAFE reports 
for previous years are available from the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) at 1007 West Third Avenue, Suite 400, 
Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's website 
at https://www.npfmc.org. Electronic copies of the Environmental 
Assessment (EA), the Regulatory Impact Review, the Social Impact 
Analysis, and the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) prepared for 
Amendment 122 to the FMP and the implementing rule may be obtained from 
https://www.regulations.gov in docket number NOAA-NMFS-2022-0072 or 
from the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The 
Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS approved it, under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear 
at 50 CFR part 600.

Amendment 122 and the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program

    On August 8, 2023, NMFS published a final rule to implement 
Amendment 122 to the FMP (Amendment 122), which establishes a limited 
access privilege program to harvest Pacific cod in the BSAI trawl 
catcher vessel (CV) sector (the PCTC Program). The PCTC Program 
allocates Pacific cod quota share to qualifying groundfish License 
Limitation Program license holders and qualifying processors and 
requires participants to form cooperatives to

[[Page 84755]]

harvest the quota. A complete description of the purpose and background 
of Amendment 122 is in the proposed rule for that action (88 FR 8592, 
February 9, 2023), as well as the final rule (88 FR 53704, August 8, 
2023).

The PCTC Program and Accompanying Changes to the Harvest Specifications

    In order to effectively manage the BSAI Pacific cod trawl CV 
fisheries in the beginning of 2024, NMFS must revise the final 2023 and 
2024 harvest specifications (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) for 2024 to 
be consistent with Amendment 122 and implementing regulations. The 
final rule to implement Amendment 122 revised the Pacific cod trawl CV 
allocations in the BSAI by implementing the PCTC Program in the BSAI. 
Additionally, the final rule revised the crab and halibut PSC limits 
for the BSAI trawl limited access sector to implement the PCTC Program 
in the BSAI. These regulatory revisions, as well as additional 
revisions necessary to be consistent with Amendment 122 and 
implementing regulations (such as groundfish and halibut PSC sideboard 
limits), will be incorporated into future harvest specifications for 
the BSAI groundfish fisheries, starting with the proposed 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications, which should be published in December 2023. The 
final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications should be published by March 
2024.

Revisions to the Final 2023 and 2024 Harvest Specifications for 2024 
for the BSAI

    Based on the approval of Amendment 122 and its implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR part 679 (effective September 7, 2023), NMFS is 
revising the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for 2024 for 
trawl CV Pacific cod in the BSAI. With this final rule, NMFS revises 
tables 9 and 16 and adds table 16a in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) 
to be consistent with the final rule implementing Amendment 122. Tables 
9 and 16 were originally published in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications for the BSAI. This final rule uses the same table 
numbers and titles for tables 9 and 16 that were used in the final 2023 
and 2024 harvest specifications and adds table 16a. However, the title 
of table 16 is revised to remove the term ``AND 2024'' and the reasons 
for this revision are addressed in the next section.

Revision to Table 9--Final 2024 Sector Allocations and Seasonal 
Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC

    Table 9 lists the final 2024 Pacific cod Community Development 
Quota (CDQ) and non-CDQ TAC amounts; non-CDQ seasonal allowances by 
gear; the sector allocations of Pacific cod; and the seasons set forth 
at Sec.  679.23(e)(5). The table published in the final 2023 and 2024 
harvest specifications reflects the trawl CV sector allocation and 
seasonal allowances, consistent with the regulations in effect when the 
final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications were published. Table 9 must 
be revised to reflect the trawl CV Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAs) and 
PCTC Program allocations for the A and B seasons in accordance with 
regulatory changes made under Amendment 122. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.131(b), the A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod TAC specified for 
the BSAI is now allocated between the ICA and the PCTC Program. This is 
a change from 2023 and prior years, when the trawl CV A and B Pacific 
cod seasons were not further allocated. This final action revises table 
9 to incorporate the correct sector allocations and seasonal allowances 
for 2024 Pacific cod in the BSAI.

                               Table 9--Final 2024 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        2024 Share of                                       2024 Seasonal allowances
                  Sector                     Percent     gear sector    2024 Share of ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            total       sector total                         Season                           Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea TAC......................        n/a         123,295             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
Bering Sea CDQ............................        n/a          13,193             n/a  See Sec.   679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)....................             n/a
Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC....................        n/a         110,102             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
Total Aleutian Islands TAC................        n/a           8,425             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
Aleutian Islands CDQ......................        n/a             901             n/a  See Sec.   679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)....................             n/a
Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC..............        n/a           7,524             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
Western Aleutians Islands Limit...........        n/a           1,323             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\................      100.0         117,626             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear..............       60.8          71,517             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\.................        n/a             n/a             500  n/a..............................................             n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total...............        n/a          71,017             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processors..........       48.7             n/a          56,883  n/a..............................................             n/a
A-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 1-Jun 10.....................................          29,011
B-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31....................................          27,873
Hook-and-line catcher vessels >60 ft LOA..        0.2             n/a             234  n/a..............................................             n/a
A-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 1-Jun 10.....................................             119
B-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31....................................             114
Pot catcher/processors....................        1.5             n/a           1,752  n/a..............................................             n/a
A-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 1-Jun 10.....................................             894
B-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Sept 1-Dec 31....................................             859
Pot catcher vessels >60 ft LOA............        8.4             n/a           9,812  n/a..............................................             n/a
A-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 1-Jun 10.....................................           5,004
B-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Sept 1-Dec 31....................................           4,808
Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA using hook-and-        2.0             n/a           2,336  n/a..............................................             n/a
 line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessels \3\.................       22.1          25,995             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
A-Season ICA..............................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 20-Apr 1.....................................           1,500
A-season PCTC.............................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 20-Apr 1.....................................          17,737
B-season ICA..............................  .........  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10.....................................             700
B-season PCTC.............................  .........  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10.....................................           2,159
C-season trawl catcher vessels............  .........  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1.....................................           3,899
AFA trawl catcher/processors..............        2.3           2,705             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a

[[Page 84756]]

 
A-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 20-Apr 1.....................................           2,029
B-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10.....................................             676
C-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1.....................................  ..............
Amendment 80..............................       13.4          15,762             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
A-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 20-Apr 1.....................................          11,821
B-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10.....................................           3,940
C-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31....................................  ..............
Jig.......................................        1.4           1,647             n/a  n/a..............................................             n/a
A-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Jan 1-Apr 30.....................................             988
B-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Apr 30-Aug 31....................................             329
C-season..................................  .........  ..............  ..............  Aug 31-Dec 31....................................             329
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and Aleutian Islands (AI) Pacific cod TACs,
  after subtraction of the reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the BS or AI is or will be reached, then directed fishing
  will be prohibited for non-CDQ Pacific cod in that subarea, even if a BSAI allowance remains (Sec.   679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot
  sectors. The Regional Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 metric tons (mt) based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other
  fisheries.
\3\ The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation will be allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program after subtraction of the A and B
  season ICAs (Sec.   679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator establishes ICAs for the A and B seasons of 1,500 mt and 700 mt, respectively, to
  account for projected incidental catch of Pacific cod by trawl catcher vessels engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program
  Pacific cod.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Revision to Table 16--Final 2023 and 2024 Prohibited Species Bycatch 
Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector

    Table 16 lists the seasonal allocations of the 2023 and 2024 crab 
and halibut PSC limits in the BSAI for the BSAI trawl limited access 
sector by fishery category and season. These allocations are made 
pursuant to Sec.  679.21(b) and (e) (as revised). The table published 
in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications incorporates fishery 
categories and seasonal apportionments for the trawl CV sector and 
American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher/processor (CP) sector. NMFS is 
removing ``AND 2024'' from the title for table 16 and is adding table 
16a to incorporate the correct 2024 PCTC Program allocations to trawl 
CVs and AFA CPs in accordance with regulatory changes made under 
Amendment 122. For the PCTC Program, NMFS will apportion the crab PSC 
limit assigned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector Pacific cod 
fishery to the trawl CV sector at 90.6 percent and to the AFA CP sector 
at 9.4 percent (Sec.  679.131(d)). NMFS will apportion the halibut PSC 
limit assigned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector Pacific cod 
fishery to the trawl CV sector at 98 percent and to the AFA CP sector 
at 2 percent (Sec.  679.131(c)). NMFS will then apportion the crab and 
halibut PSC limit to the trawl CV sector for the A and B seasons 
combined (January 20 through June 10), and C season (June 10 through 
November 1). Of the crab and halibut PSC limit apportioned to the trawl 
CV sector, 95 percent will be available for the PCTC Program in the 
combined A and B seasons and 5 percent is available for the C season.
    To implement the crab and halibut PSC reductions under the PCTC 
Program, NMFS will annually apply a fixed percentage reduction to the 
combined A and B seasons PSC apportionment derived from the Pacific cod 
trawl CV sector halibut PSC apportionment because the specific 
percentage of the total halibut PSC limit assigned to the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector (Sec.  679.21(b)(1)(ii)), as well as the total 
crab PSC limit assigned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector (Sec.  
679.21(e)(3)(i)), may change annually. The total crab PSC reduction 
under the PCTC Program is 35 percent, and NMFS is fully implementing 
this reduced PSC limit in the 2024 harvest specifications. The total 
halibut PSC reduction under the PCTC Program is 25 percent, which will 
be phased in over 2 years, consistent with the PCTC Program regulations 
(Sec.  679.131(c)(1)(iii)). In the first year of the PCTC Program, NMFS 
is applying a 12.5 percent reduction to the combined A and B seasons 
trawl CV sector halibut PSC apportionment in the 2024 harvest 
specifications. In the second year and every year thereafter, NMFS will 
apply the 25 percent reduction to the combined A and B season trawl CV 
sector halibut PSC apportionment. This final action revises table 16 to 
remove ``AND 2024'' because this revision action requires a new table 
for 2024.

       Table 16-Final 2023 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Prohibited species and area and zone \1\
                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    BSAI trawl limited access fisheries         Halibut      Red king crab   C. opilio     C. bairdi (animals)
                                            mortality (mt)  (animals) zone   (animals)  ------------------------
                                                 BSAI              1           COBLZ       Zone 1       Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole............................             265           7,700    1,192,179     293,234    1,005,879
Rock sole/flathead sole/Alaska plaice/      ..............  ..............  ...........  ..........  ...........
 other flatfish \2\.......................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/       ..............  ..............  ...........  ..........  ...........
 Kamchatka flounder/sablefish.............
Rockfish April 15-December 31.............               5  ..............        1,006  ..........          849
Pacific cod...............................             300             975       50,281      50,816       42,424

[[Page 84757]]

 
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \3\...             175              65        5,028       4,235        4,243
                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC...             745           8,739    1,248,494     348,285    1,053,394
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas and zones.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
  and yellowfin sole.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses.


    Table 16a--Final 2024 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors and
                                      Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Prohibited species and area \1\
                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access sector fisheries      Halibut      Red king crab   C. opilio     C. bairdi (animals)
                                            mortality (mt)  (animals) zone   (animals)  ------------------------
                                                 BSAI              1           COBLZ       Zone 1       Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole............................             265           7,700    1,192,179     293,234    1,005,879
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \2\  ..............  ..............  ...........  ..........  ...........
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/       ..............  ..............  ...........  ..........  ...........
 Kamchatka flounder/sablefish.............
Rockfish, April 15-December 31............               5  ..............        1,006  ..........          849
Total Pacific cod \3\.....................             300             975       50,281      50,816       42,424
AFA CP Pacific cod........................               6              92        4,726       4,777        3,988
PCTC Program Pacific cod, A and B Season..             244             545       28,130      28,429       23,734
Trawl CV Pacific cod, C Season............              15              44        2,278       2,302        1,922
PCTC Program unallocated reduction........              35             294       15,147      15,308       12,780
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\...             175              65        5,028       4,235        4,243
Total BSAI trawl limited access sector PSC             745           8,739    1,248,494     348,285    1,053,394
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas and zones.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
  and yellowfin sole.
\3\ With the implementation of the PCTC Program, the BSAI trawl limited access sector Pacific cod fishery
  category PSC limits are further apportioned between AFA CPs, PCTC A and B-season, and open access C season
  (Sec.   679.131(c) and (d)). In the first year of the Program, 2024, NMFS will apply a 12.5 percent reduction
  to the A and B season trawl CV sector halibut PSC limit and a 35 percent reduction to the A and B season trawl
  CV sector crab PSC limit. The proposed 2024 PCTC Program A and B season halibut and crab PSC limits include
  these reductions. In the second year of the Program and every year thereafter, NMFS will apply a 25 percent
  and 35 percent reduction to the A and B season trawl CV sector halibut and crab PSC limit, respectively. Any
  amount of the PCTC Program PSC limit remaining after the B season may be reapportioned to the trawl CV limited
  access fishery in the open access C season. Because the annual halibut PSC limit for the PCTC Program is not a
  fixed amount established in regulation and, instead, is determined annually through the harvest specification
  process, NMFS must apply the reductions to the A and B season apportionment of the trawl CV sector
  apportionment to implement the overall PSC reductions under the PCTC Program.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses.
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

    This final rule is necessary to ensure that appropriate Pacific cod 
allocations and crab and halibut PSC limits will be in effect for the 
beginning of the 2024 fishing year for those fishery participants 
affected by the PCTC Program changes that were established under 
Amendment 122 and its implementing regulations. These changes to the 
Pacific cod allocations and crab and halibut PSC limits also will be 
incorporated in future harvest specifications for the BSAI groundfish 
fisheries.

Classification

    NMFS issues the groundfish harvest specifications pursuant to 
305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Through previous actions, the FMP 
and regulations authorize NMFS to issue the groundfish harvest 
specifications. See 50 CFR part 679. The NMFS Assistant Administrator 
has determined that these revisions to the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications for 2024 are consistent with the FMP, the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.
    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the NMFS Assistant Administrator 
finds good cause to waive prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment on this action as notice and comment would be unnecessary and 
contrary to the public interest. Through this action, NMFS revises the 
final 2024 BSAI harvest specifications to be consistent with the final 
rule implementing Amendment 122 to the FMP and to ensure that the 2024 
trawl CV Pacific cod allocation and PSC limit changes implemented under 
Amendment 122 and its final rule will be effective at the beginning of 
the 2024 fishing year. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
on this action is unnecessary because the revisions from this action 
merely update the 2024 BSAI harvest specifications to reflect 
allocations and PSC limits implemented and required by the final

[[Page 84758]]

rule for Amendment 122: the 2023 and 2024 groundfish harvest 
specifications have already been subject to notice and comment, and the 
final rule and Amendment 122 were also already subject to notice and 
comment. This action does not revise the final 2023 and 2024 BSAI 
harvest specifications in any substantive manner not previously the 
subject of notice and comment during the development of Amendment 122 
and implementing regulations.
    In addition, it is important and necessary that the Pacific cod 
allocations and PSC limits revised under Amendment 122 and its 
implementing regulations are effective at the beginning of the 2024 
fishing year, rather than waiting to implement the revisions in the 
final 2024 and 2025 BSAI harvest specifications, which will not be 
effective until after the start of the 2024 fishing year. The current 
2023 and 2024 BSAI harvest specifications became effective before 
Amendment 122 was published. The Pacific cod fisheries in the BSAI are 
intensive, fast-paced fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated 
the capacity to catch the Pacific cod TAC allocations in these 
fisheries. This fleet in particular targets much of their annual catch 
early in the year when fish school up to spawn. Much of this fishing 
will be over by when the final 2024 and 2025 BSAI harvest 
specifications publish in February or March of 2024. The harvest 
specifications rely upon annual surveys and analyses to set the 
following year's allocations. Such surveys were not available in time 
to assess the data and publish this rule any sooner. Any delay in 
allocating the 2024 Pacific cod trawl CV TACs under Amendment 122 and 
its implementing regulations would cause confusion to the industry and 
potential economic harm through unnecessary discards.
    Determining which fisheries may close is impossible because these 
fisheries are affected by several factors that cannot be predicted in 
advance, including fishing effort, weather, movement of fishery stocks, 
and market price. Furthermore, the closure of one fishery has a 
cascading effect on other fisheries by freeing up fishing vessels, 
allowing them to move from closed fisheries to open fisheries, 
increasing the fishing capacity in those open fisheries, and causing 
them to close at an accelerated pace. Accordingly, waiver of prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment and publication of this final 
rule is necessary to ensure that the allocations and limitations 
required under the final rule to implement Amendment 122 will be 
effective at the beginning of the 2024 fishing year and to provide the 
regulated community with timely, adequate, and accurate information 
necessary to allow the industry to plan for the 2024 fishing season, to 
conduct orderly and efficient fisheries, and to avoid potential 
disruption to the fishing fleet and processors.
    For the same reasons, NMFS finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date.
    NMFS prepared a Final EIS for the Alaska groundfish harvest 
specifications and alternative harvest strategies (see ADDRESSES) and 
made it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On 
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the ROD for the Final EIS. In January-
February 2023, NMFS prepared a SIR for the 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications and determined that a supplemental EIS is not necessary 
to implement the 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications. Copies of the 
Final EIS, ROD, and annual SIRs for this action are available from NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES). NMFS also prepared an EA and FONSI in conjunction with 
Amendment 122 to the BSAI FMP (See ADDRESSES).
    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act are 
inapplicable. This rule modifies the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications to be consistent with Amendment 122 and implementing 
regulations, for both of which NMFS prepared a FRFA. A FRFA was 
prepared to evaluate the impacts on small entities resulting from 
establishing the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications, in 
accordance with Section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 
U.S.C. 604). The FRFA was published with the harvest specifications 
final rule (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) and is not repeated here. 
Additionally, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) and 
FRFA were prepared for Amendment 122. The FRFA for Amendment 122 
incorporates the IRFA, a summary of the significant issues raised by 
the public comments in response to the IRFA, NMFS's responses to those 
comments, and a summary of the analyses completed to support the 
action.
    This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal 
rules.
    This rule contains no information collection requirements under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and shall designate such publications as ``small entity compliance 
guides.'' The agency shall explain the actions a small entity is 
required to take to comply with a rule or group of rules. A FRFA was 
not required to implement this rule.
    NMFS, however, provides the following information as a plain 
language guide to assist small entities in complying with this final 
rule. This final rule is necessary to revise final 2023 and 2024 
harvest specifications for 2024 Pacific cod allocations and crab and 
halibut PSC limits in the BSAI so that the allocations and PSC limits 
are consistent with new fishery allocations and PSC limits established 
under the final rule to implement Amendment 122. This action affects 
all fishermen who participate in the trawl CV and AFA CP sectors 
Pacific cod fisheries in the BSAI. The specific amounts of Pacific cod 
TAC apportionments and PSC limit allocations are provided in tabular 
form to assist the reader. NMFS will announce closures of directed 
fishing in the Federal Register and in information bulletins released 
by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen should keep themselves 
informed of such closures. Additional information on the PCTC Program, 
including a small entity compliance guide, can be found on the NMFS 
Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2023-08/PCTC-Small-Entity-Compliance-Guide-FAQ.pdf.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540 (f), 1801 et 
seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-31; Pub. 
L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 122-241; Pub. 
L 122-479.

    Dated: November 30, 2023.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26639 Filed 12-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P