Rule2024-22518
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species 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
October 1, 2024
Effective
September 30, 2024
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, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Kamchatka flounder, and 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 89 Issue 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 79783-79784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22518]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 240304-0068; RTID 0648-XE302]
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.
[[Page 79784]]
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, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) Kamchatka flounder, and 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 September 30, 2024, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time, December 31, 2024. Comments must be received at the following
address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, October 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
docket number NOAA-NMFS-2023-0124, 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-2023-0124 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: 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 (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.
The 2024 ITAC of BS ``other rockfish was established as 748 metric
tons (mt), the 2024 ITAC of BS Pacific ocean perch was established as
9,891 metric tons mt, the 2024 ITAC of BSAI Kamchatka flounder was
established as 6,373 mt, and the 2023 ITAC of BSAI skates was
established as 25,941 mt, by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11,
2024). 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, BSAI Kamchatka flounder, 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: 132 mt to BS ``other rockfish,'' 1,745 mt
to BS Pacific ocean perch, 1,125 mt to BSAI Kamchatka flounder, and
4,578 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 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024).
The harvest specification for the 2024 ITACs and TACs included in
the harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as
follows 880 mt for BS ``other rockfish,'' 11,636 mt for BS Pacific
ocean perch, 7,498 mt for BSAI Kamchatka flounder, and 30,519 mt for
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 BS ``other rockfish,'' BS Pacific
ocean perch, BSAI Kamchatka flounder, 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 September 13, 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.
Under Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES section) until
October 15, 2024.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 26, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-22518 Filed 9-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 1, 2024.
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