Rule2024-01338
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 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
January 24, 2024
Effective
January 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the A season pollock sideboard limit by non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher vessels in Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2024 A season allowance of the pollock sideboard limit established for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4580-4581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01338]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230224-0053; RTID 0648-XD676]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the A season pollock
sideboard limit by non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher
vessels in Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2024 A season allowance of
the pollock sideboard limit established for non-exempt AFA catcher
vessels in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 20,
2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2024.
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 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 (Magnuson-Stevens 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.
Regulations governing sideboard protections for GOA groundfish
fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR part 680.
The 2024 A season pollock sideboard limit established for non-
exempt AFA catcher vessels in Statistical Area 610 is 1,102 metric tons
(mt), as established by the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications
for groundfish in the GOA (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional
Administrator has determined that the 2024 A season pollock sideboard
limit established for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in Statistical
Area 610 will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed
[[Page 4581]]
fishing allowance of 0 mt and is setting aside the remaining 1,102 mt
as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator
finds that this sideboard directed fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the 2024 A
season pollock sideboard limit for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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 directed fishing closure
of the 2024 A season pollock sideboard limit for the non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. NMFS was unable to
publish a notification providing time for public comment because the
most recent, relevant data only became available as of January 16,
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 19, 2024.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-01338 Filed 1-19-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 24, 2024.
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