Rule2021-26064
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod 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 30, 2021
Effective
November 29, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from pot catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) and trawl catcher vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear, pot catcher/processors, and American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/ processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2021 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 227 (Tuesday, November 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 30, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67879-67880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26064]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210217-0022; RTID 0648-XB505]
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 pot catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3
meters (m)) length overall (LOA) and trawl catcher vessels to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear,
pot catcher/processors, and American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/
processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2021 total allowable
catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective November 29, 2021, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (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 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified for pot catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA in the BSAI is 9,334 mt as
established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021).
The 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified for trawl catcher vessels in the
BSAI is 24,704 mt as established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25,
2021).
The 2021 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 3,944
mt as established by final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021) and
reallocation (86 FR 47240, August 24, 2021).
The 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified for pot catcher/processors in
the BSAI is 1,667 mt as established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25,
2021).
The 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified for AFA trawl catcher/processors
in the BSAI is 2,571 mt as established by the final 2021 and 2022
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449,
February 25, 2021).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)
has determined that pot catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA will not be able to harvest 500 mt of the 2021
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(5) and that trawl catcher vessels will not be able
to harvest 3,054 mt of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those
vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS
reallocates 500 mt of Pacific cod from pot catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA and 3,054 of Pacific cod from trawl
catcher vessels. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), the
3,554 mt of Pacific cod is reallocated as follows: 500 mt for catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear,
500 mt for pot catcher/processors, and 2,554 mt for AFA trawl catcher/
processors.
The harvest specifications for 2021 Pacific cod included in final
2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR
11449, February 25, 2021) and revision (86 FR 47240, August 24, 2021),
are further revised as follows: 8,834 mt to pot catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA, 21,650 mt to trawl catcher
vessels, 4,444 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear, 2,167 mt to pot catcher/processors,
and 5,125 mt to AFA trawl catcher/processors.
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.
[[Page 67880]]
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 delay the reallocation 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 November 23, 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: November 24, 2021.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-26064 Filed 11-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 30, 2021.
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