Rule2021-27648
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the 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
December 22, 2021
Effective
December 21, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the 2021 TAC of Pacific cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 243 (Wednesday, December 22, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 22, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72534-72535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27648]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210210-0018; RTID 0648-XB656]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
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 amounts of Pacific
cod total allowable catch (TAC) from catcher vessels using trawl gear
to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the 2021
TAC of Pacific cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA to be
harvested.
DATES: Effective December 21, 2021, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2021.
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.
[[Page 72535]]
The 2021 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to catcher vessels using trawl
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 3,826 mt, as
established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (86 FR 10184, February 19, 2021).
The 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher/processors using
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 426 mt as
established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (86 FR 10184, February 19, 2021).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)
has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able
to use 426 mt of the 2020 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels
under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), the Regional
Administrator has also determined that catcher/processors using trawl
gear currently have the capacity to harvest this excess allocation.
Therefore, NMFS apportions 435 mt of Pacific cod from the catcher
vessels using trawl gear to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA included in the final 2021 and 2022 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA (86 FR 10184, February 19,
2021) are revised as follows: 3,391 to catcher vessels using trawl gear
and 861 mt to catcher/processors using trawl gear.
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 reallocation of Pacific
cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to
publish a document providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became available as of December 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 16, 2021.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-27648 Filed 12-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 22, 2021.
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