Rule2024-00550
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
January 12, 2024
Effective
January 10, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2024 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 9 (Friday, January 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2176-2177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00550]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230306-0065; RTID 0648-XD642]
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 vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet
(18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is
necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2024 total
allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective January 10, 2024, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Milani, 907-581-2062.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 A season apportionment of the 2024 Pacific cod total allowable
catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,169
metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2023 and 2024 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023)
and inseason adjustment (88 FR 88836, December 26, 2023).
The 2024 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot
gear in the BSAI is 2,767 mt as established by final 2023 and 2024
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March
10, 2023) and inseason
[[Page 2177]]
adjustment (88 FR 88836, December 26, 2023).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)
has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,100 mt of
the A season apportionment of the 2024 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions 1,100 mt of
Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment to the annual
amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2024 Pacific cod included in final
2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR
14926, March 10, 2023) and inseason adjustment (88 FR 88836, December
26, 2023) are revised as follows: 69 mt to the A season apportionment
and 848 mt to the annual amount for vessels using jig gear, and 3,867
mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-
line or pot 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 specified from jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet
(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became available as of January 8, 2024.
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: January 9, 2024.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00550 Filed 1-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 12, 2024.
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