Rule2022-19450
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; 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
September 8, 2022
Effective
September 6, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by American Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2022 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to American Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processors in the BSAI.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54913-54914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19450]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 220223-0054: RTID 0648-XC350
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; 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; modification of a closure; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by American
Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use
the 2022 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to American
Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processors in the BSAI.
DATES:
Effective date: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.),
September 6, 2022, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1, 2022.
Comments due date: Comments must be received at the following
address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., September 23, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
docket number NOAA-NMFS-2022-0076, by any of the following methods:
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-2022-0076 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Josh Keaton, Acting Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS. 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 will generally be posted 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: Krista Milani, 907-581-2062.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR parts
600 and 679.
NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by American Fisheries
Act trawl catcher/processors in the BSAI under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)
on January 20, 2022 (87 FR 3048, January 20, 2022).
NMFS has determined that as of September 2, 2022, approximately 900
metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the 2022 Pacific cod total
allowable catch (TAC) allocated to the American Fisheries Act trawl
catcher/processors in the BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the
2022 TAC of Pacific cod in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating the previous
closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by American
Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processors in the BSAI. The Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS, considered the following factors in reaching this
decision: (1) the current catch of Pacific cod by American Fisheries
Act trawl catcher/processors in the BSAI and, (2) the harvest capacity
and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels in
participating in this fishery.
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 opening of directed
fishing for Pacific cod by American
[[Page 54914]]
Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processors in 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 6, 2022.
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.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery
for Pacific cod by American Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processors in
the BSAI to be harvested in an expedient manner and in accordance with
the regulatory schedule. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons
are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above
address until September 23, 2022.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 2, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-19450 Filed 9-6-22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 8, 2022.
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