Rule2023-28324
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment to the 2024 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts
Primary source
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Published
December 26, 2023
Effective
January 1, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is adjusting the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fisheries. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod TACs are the appropriate amount based on the best scientific information available for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 88840-88842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28324]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230224-0053; RTID 0648-XD598]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason
Adjustment to the 2024 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and Pacific Cod Total
Allowable Catch Amounts
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts
for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and Pacific cod fisheries. This
action is necessary because NMFS has determined these TACs are
incorrectly specified, and will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific cod
TACs are the appropriate amount based on the best scientific
information available for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. This
action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
DATES: Effective 0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1,
2024, until the effective date of the final 2024 and 2025 harvest
specifications for GOA groundfish, unless otherwise modified or
superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal
Register.
Comments must be received at the following address no later than
4:30 p.m., A.l.t., January 10, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
docket number NOAA-NMFS-2022-0094, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and
enter NOAA-NMFS-2022-0094 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Gretchen Harrington, 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="https://www.regulations.gov">https://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: Adam Zaleski, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the FMP for Groundfish of the
Gulf of Alaska prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
(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 final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023) set the 2024 pollock TAC at
168,416 metric tons (mt) in the GOA. In December 2023, the Council
recommended a 2024 pollock TAC of 195,720 mt for the GOA, which is
greater than the 168,416 mt established by the final 2023 and 2024
harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA. The Council's
recommended 2024 TAC, and the area and seasonal
[[Page 88841]]
apportionments, is based on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation
report (SAFE), dated November 2023.
The final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023) set the 2024 Pacific cod TAC at
16,668 mt in the GOA. In December 2023, the Council recommended a 2024
Pacific cod TAC of 23,766 mt for the GOA, which is greater than the
16,668 mt established by the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications
for groundfish in the GOA. The Council's recommended 2024 TAC, and the
area and seasonal apportionments, is based on the SAFE, dated November
2023.
Steller sea lions occur in the same location as the pollock and
Pacific cod fisheries and are listed as endangered under the Endangered
Species Act. Pollock and Pacific cod are principal prey species for
Steller sea lions in the GOA. The seasonal apportionment of pollock and
Pacific cod harvests are necessary to ensure the groundfish fisheries
are not likely to cause jeopardy of extinction or adverse modification
of critical habitat for Steller sea lions. The regulations at Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iv) specify how the pollock TAC will be apportioned and
the regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i) specify how
the Pacific cod TAC will be apportioned.
In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii), (a)(2)(i)(B), and
(a)(2)(iv) the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), has determined that, based on the best scientific
information available for this fishery, the current GOA pollock and
Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly specified. Consequently, pursuant to
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the
2024 GOA pollock TAC to 195,720 mt and the 2024 Pacific cod TAC to
23,766 mt. Therefore, tables 4 and 6 of the final 2023 and 2024 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023)
are revised consistent with this adjustment.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv), table 4 of the final 2023 and
2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (88 FR 13238,
March 2, 2023) is revised for the 2024 TACs of pollock in the Central
and Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Table 4--Final 2024 Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
Area Apportionments; \1\ and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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Shumigan (Area Chirikof (Area Kodiak (Area
Season \2\ 610) 620) 630) Total \3\
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A (January 20-May 31)........................... 5,422 70,918 13,862 90,202
B (September 1-November 1)...................... 33,460 20,019 36,725 90,204
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Annual Total................................ 38,882 90,937 50,587 180,406
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\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (ii), the A and B season allowances are available from
January 20 through May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for
processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table.
\3\ The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not
included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) and (a)(12)(i), table 6 of the
final 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023) is revised for the 2024 TACs of Pacific
cod in the GOA.
Table 6--Final 2024 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts in the
GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore Processing
Components
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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A Season B Season
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Annual Sector Sector
Regulatory area and sector allocation percentage of Seasonal percentage of Seasonal
(mt) annual non-jig allowances annual non-jig allowances
TAC (mt) TAC (mt)
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Western GOA:
Jig (2.5% of TAC)........... 153 N/A 92 N/A 61
Hook-and-line CV............ 84 0.7% 42 0.70% 42
Hook-and-line CP............ 1,182 10.9% 651 8.90% 531
Trawl CV.................... 2,292 31.54% 1,882 6.86% 409
Trawl CP.................... 143 0.9% 54 1.50% 90
All Pot CV and Pot CP....... 2,268 19.80% 1,182 18.20% 1,086
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Total................... 6,121 63.84% 3,902 36.16% 2,219
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Central GOA:
Jig (1.0% of TAC)........... 154 N/A 93 N/A 62
Hook-and-line <50 CV........ 2,232 9.32% 1,424 5.29% 808
Hook-and-line >=50 CV....... 1,025 5.61% 858 1.10% 168
Hook-and-line CP............ 780 4.11% 628 1.00% 152
Trawl CV \1\................ 6,357 25.29% 3,867 16.29% 2,490
Trawl CP.................... 642 2.00% 306 2.19% 335
[[Page 88842]]
All Pot CV and Pot CP....... 4,251 17.83% 2,726 9.98% 1,525
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Total................... 15,442 64.16% 9,901 35.84% 5,541
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Eastern GOA..................... .............. Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
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2,203 1,983
220
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\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 588 mt, of the
annual Central GOA TAC (see table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), which is deducted from the Trawl CV B season
allowance (see table 13. Final 2024 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA and table
28c to 50 CFR part 679).
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 allow for harvests that exceed the
appropriate allocation for pollock and Pacific cod based on the best
scientific information available. NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant
data only became available as of December 14, 2023.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery
for pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA 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 January 10, 2024.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 19, 2023.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-28324 Filed 12-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 26, 2023.
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