[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 69 (Friday, April 11, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15415-15416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06244]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XE820]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; 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; modification of a closure; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by American
Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors (CPs) in the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary
to fully use the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod
allocated to AFA trawl CPs in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 9, 2025,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1, 2025. Comments must be received
at the following address no later than April 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
docket number NOAA-NMFS-2024-0116, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and
enter NOAA-NMFS-2024-0116 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Gretchen Harrington, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
[[Page 15416]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(FMP) prepared and recommended 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.
NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by AFA trawl CPs in
the BSAI under Sec. 679.20(d)(1) on February 12, 2025 (90 FR 9693,
February 18, 2025).
NMFS has determined that as of March 27, 2025, approximately 2,200
metric tons of Pacific cod remain of the 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated
to the AFA trawl CPs in the BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to facilitate
fully harvesting the 2025 TAC of Pacific cod in the BSAI, NMFS is
terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for
Pacific cod by AFA trawl CPs in the BSAI. The Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS, considered the following factors in reaching this
decision: (1) the current catch of Pacific cod by AFA trawl CPs in the
BSAI; and (2) the harvest capacity and stated intent on future
harvesting patterns of vessels in participating in this fishery.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is issued pursuant to 50 CFR part 679, which
was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 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 opening of directed
fishing for Pacific cod by AFA trawl CPs in the BSAI. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data on Pacific cod catch only became available as of
March 27, 2025.
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.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery
for Pacific cod by AFA trawl CPs in the BSAI to be harvested in an
expedient manner. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are
invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address
until April 28, 2025.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 8, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-06244 Filed 4-9-25; 4:15 pm]
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