Rule2025-09165
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea of 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
May 21, 2025
Effective
May 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch (POP) in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2025 total allowable catch of POP specified for the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 97 (Wednesday, May 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 21, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 21699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09165]
[[Page 21699]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XE884]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific
Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of a closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch (POP)
in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2025
total allowable catch of POP specified for the Bering Sea subarea of
the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 19, 2025,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. Comments must be
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., June
5, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0116, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> 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-2024-0116 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
<bullet<ls-thn-eq> 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 ``NA'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-206-6783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(FMP) prepared and recommended 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.
NMFS closed directed fishing for POP in the Bering Sea subarea of
the BSAI under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) in the final 2025 and 2026
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March
18, 2025).
NMFS has determined that as of May 14, 2025, approximately 5,500
metric tons of POP remain in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore,
in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and
(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the 2025 total allowable catch of
POP in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI, NMFS is terminating the
previous closure and is opening directed fishing for POP in Bering Sea
subarea of the BSAI, effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 19, 2025,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. This will provide
harvest opportunities for and enhance the socioeconomic well-being of
harvesters dependent on POP in this area.
The Administrator, Alaska Region considered the following factors
in reaching this decision: (1) the current catch of POP in the BSAI;
and (2) the harvest capacity and stated intent of future harvesting
patterns of vessels participating in this fishery.
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) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 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 opening of directed
fishing for POP in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data on POP only became available as of May 14, 2025.
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.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the directed
fishery for POP in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI to be harvested
in an expedient manner. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons
are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above
address until June 5, 2025.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 16, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-09165 Filed 5-19-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 21, 2025.
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