Rule2021-18371
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish Fishery by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 26, 2021
Effective
August 24, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the 2021 groundfish total allowable catch available for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47597-47598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18371]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210210-0018; RTID 0648-XB337]
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish
Fishery by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the
Western and Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish, other than
pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA).
This action is necessary to fully use the 2021 groundfish total
allowable catch available for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels
directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 24,
2021, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2021. Comments must be
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t.,
September 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0140, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and enter NOAA-NMFS-2020-0140 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
<bullet> Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Records Office. 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 NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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).
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.
NMFS prohibited directed fishing for groundfish, other than
pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, effective 1200
hours, A.l.t., March 26, 2021 (86 FR 16677, March 31, 2021) under Sec.
679.21(i)(8)(ii).
On August 20, 2021, NMFS published an inseason adjustment (86 FR
46792, August 20, 2021) that reapportioned 1,350 Chinook salmon
prohibited species catch limit to the non-Rockfish Program catcher
vessel sector participating in the directed fishery for groundfish,
other than pollock, in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the
GOA that is available from August 18, 2021 until December 31, 2021
(Sec. 679.21(h)(5)(iii)). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.25(a)(1)(i)), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully
utilize the 2021 groundfish total allowable catch available for non-
Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, other
than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory
Areas of the GOA, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is
opening directed fishing for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels
directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using
[[Page 47598]]
trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the 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 opening directed fishing for
groundfish, other than pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels
using trawl gear in the Western and 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 August 20, 2021.
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 23, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18371 Filed 8-23-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 26, 2021.
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