[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67327-67328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18567]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 240304-0068; RTID 0648-XE201]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod 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; reallocation.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from vessels using jig gear, trawl catcher vessels, and catcher
vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length
overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear to catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to
allow the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be
harvested.
DATES: Effective August 19, 2024, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Milani, 907-586-2062.
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 Council under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens 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 2024 Pacific cod TAC specified for vessels using jig gear in
the BSAI is 848 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2024 and
2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287,
March 11, 2024) and reallocation (89 FR 24736, April 9, 2024).
The 2024 Pacific cod TAC specified for trawl catcher vessels in the
BSAI is 30,754 mt as established by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11,
2024).
The 2024 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI
is 277 mt as established by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11,
2024).
The 2024 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 3,867
mt as established by final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024) and reallocation
(89 FR 24736, April 9, 2024).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)
has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 750 mt of
the 2024
[[Page 67328]]
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1), trawl catcher vessels will not be able to
harvest 1,000 mt of the 2024 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels
under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9), and catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear will not be able
to harvest 267 mt of the 2023 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those
vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS
apportions 750 mt of Pacific cod from the jig vessels to the annual
amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear. Also, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS reallocates 1,000 mt from trawl catcher
vessels, and 267 mt from the catcher vessels greater than or equal to
60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear to the annual amount
specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using
hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2024 Pacific cod included in final
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR
17287, March 11, 2024) and reallocation (89 FR 24736, April 9, 2024) is
revised as follows: 98 mt to vessels using jig gear, 29,754 mt to trawl
catcher vessels, 10 mt to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear, and 5,884 mt to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
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.
This requirement is 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 allow for harvests that exceed the
originally specified apportionment of the Pacific cod TAC. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of August 14,
2024.
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: August 14, 2024.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-18567 Filed 8-19-24; 8:45 am]
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