Rule2022-24247
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Primary source
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Published
November 4, 2022
Effective
November 2, 2022
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) "other rockfish," BS Pacific ocean perch, BS sablefish, and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) skates. 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 87 Issue 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24247]
[[Page 66611]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 220223-0054; RTID 0648-XC510]
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) ``other
rockfish,'' BS Pacific ocean perch, BS sablefish, and Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) skates. 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 2, 2022, through 12 a.m., Alaska local time,
January 1, 2023. Comments must be received at the following address no
later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, November 17, 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: 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 2022 ITAC of BS ``other rockfish'' was established as 638
metric tons (mt), the 2022 ITAC of BS Pacific ocean perch was
established as 8,799 mt, the 2022 ITAC of BS sablefish was established
as 4,343 mt, and the 2022 ITAC of BSAI skates was established as 25,500
mt by the final 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications for groundfish of
the BSAI (87 FR 11626, March 2, 2022). 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 ``other rockfish,'' BS Pacific ocean perch, BS sablefish, and BSAI
skates 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: 281 mt to BS ``other rockfish,'' 1,553 mt
to BS Pacific ocean perch, 197 mt to BS sablefish, and 5,600 mt to BSAI
skates. 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
2022 and 2023 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (87 FR
11626, March 2, 2022).
The harvest specification for the 2022 ITACs and TACs included in
the harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as
follows: 919 mt for BS ``other rockfish,'' 10,352 mt for BS Pacific
ocean perch, 4,540 mt for BS sablefish, and 31,100 mt to BSAI skates.
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 ``other rockfish,'' BS
Pacific ocean perch, BS sablefish, and BSAI skates. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became available as of October 26, 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 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 November
17, 2022.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 2, 2022.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-24247 Filed 11-2-22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 4, 2022.
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