Rule2021-25308
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species in 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
November 19, 2021
Effective
November 16, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea (BS) Pacific ocean perch, BS trawl sablefish, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) shortraker rockfish, BSAI skates, BSAI sharks, and Central Aleutian Islands and Western Aleutian Islands (CAI/WAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64827-64828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25308]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210217-0022; RTID 0648-XB592]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several
Groundfish Species 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; apportionment of reserves; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the
initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea (BS) Pacific ocean
perch, BS trawl sablefish, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
shortraker rockfish, BSAI skates, BSAI sharks, and Central Aleutian
Islands and Western Aleutian
[[Page 64828]]
Islands (CAI/WAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. This action is
necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended
to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for
the BSAI management area.
DATES: Effective November 16, 2021, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local
time, December 31, 2021. Comments must be received at the following
address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time December 1, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket number NOAA-NMFS-
2020-0141, by either 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/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2020-0141">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2020-0141</a> click 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. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after
the comment period ends. 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 is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
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 BSAI 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 2021 ITAC of BS Pacific ocean perch was established as 9,165
metric tons (mt), the 2021 ITAC of BS trawl sablefish was established
as 1,443 mt, the 2021 ITAC of BSAI shortraker rockfish was established
as 425 mt, the 2021 ITAC of BSAI skates was established as 15,300 mt,
the 2021 ITAC of BSAI sharks was established as 170 mt, and the 2021
ITAC of CAI/WAI blackspotted/rougheye rockfish was established as 144
mt by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish of
the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(3) the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has
reviewed the most current available data and finds that the ITACs for
BS Pacific ocean perch, BS trawl sablefish, BSAI shortraker rockfish,
BSAI skates, BSAI sharks, and CAI/WAI blackspotted/rougheye rockfish
need to be supplemented from the non-specified reserve to promote
efficiency in the utilization of fishery resources in the BSAI and
allow fishing operations to continue.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions
from the non-specified reserve of groundfish to ITACs in the BSAI
management area as follows: 1,617 mt to BS Pacific ocean perch, 128 mt
to BS trawl sablefish, 116 mt to BSAI shortraker rockfish, 4,700 mt to
BSAI skates, 347 mt to BSAI sharks, and 25 mt to CAI/WAI blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish. These apportionments are consistent with Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i) and do not result in overfishing of any target species
because the revised ITACs and total allowable catches (TACs) are equal
to or less than the specifications of the acceptable biological catch
in the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021).
The harvest specification for the 2021 ITACs and TACs included in
the harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as
follows 10,782 mt for BS Pacific ocean perch, 1,571 mt for BS trawl
sablefish, 541 mt for BSAI shortraker rockfish, 20,000 mt for BSAI
skates, 517 mt for BSAI sharks, and 169 mt for CAI/WAI blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish.
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 apportionment of the non-
specified reserves of groundfish to the BS Pacific ocean perch, BS
trawl sablefish, BSAI shortraker rockfish, BSAI skates, BSAI sharks,
and CAI/WAI blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. NMFS was unable to publish
a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as of November 9, 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.
Under Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until December
1, 2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 16, 2021.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25308 Filed 11-16-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 19, 2021.
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