Rule2021-20419
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
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
September 21, 2021
Effective
September 17, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod, except for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the non-CDQ allocation of the 2021 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 180 (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20419]
[[Page 52419]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210217-0022]
RTID 0648-XB355
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area
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 directed fishing for Pacific cod, except
for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Bering Sea
subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI).
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the non-CDQ allocation of
the 2021 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering Sea
subarea of the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 17,
2021, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Milani, 907-581-2062.
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. 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 non-CDQ allocation of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC in the Bering
Sea subarea of the BSAI is 99,462 metric tons (mt) as established by
the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined
that the non-CDQ allocation of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC in the Bering
Sea subarea of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 3,700 mt,
and is setting aside the remaining 95,762 mt as incidental catch in
directed fishing for other species. In accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific cod in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable
amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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 the directed fishing closure
of non-CDQ Pacific cod in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of September
15, 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: September 16, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-20419 Filed 9-16-21; 4:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 21, 2021.
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