Rule2024-30977
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Primary source
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Published
December 27, 2024
Effective
December 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (ft) (15.2 meters (m)) length overall using hook-and-line gear and to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 105481-105482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30977]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 240227-0061; RTID 0648-XE563]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
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 catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 50 feet (ft) (15.2 meters (m)) length overall using
hook-and-line gear and to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to allow the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod
to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 20, 2024, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA 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 parts 600 and 679.
The 2024 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels using trawl
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 6,293 metric tons
(mt), as established by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications
for groundfish in the GOA (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024).
The 2024 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using hook-and-line gear is
1,015 mt as established by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024).
The 2024 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher/processors using
trawl gear is 635 mt as established by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024).
The final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications also establishes a
directed fishing closure for catcher/processors using trawl gear.
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS has determined that catcher
vessels using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 230 mt of the 2024
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.
679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), NMFS
apportions 100 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear
to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels
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greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using hook-
and-line gear and 130 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using
trawl gear to the annual amount specified for catcher/processors using
trawl gear.
The harvest specifications for 2024 Pacific cod included in the
final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024) is
revised as follows: 6,063 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear, 1,115
mt to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length
overall using hook-and-line gear, and 765 mt to catcher/processors
using trawl 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.
This requirement is 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
originally specified apportionment of the Pacific cod TAC. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of December 19,
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: December 20, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-30977 Filed 12-20-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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