Rule2025-13303
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory Area 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
July 16, 2025
Effective
July 14, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by catcher/ processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been or will be reached.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 134 (Wednesday, July 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 16, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31899-31900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13303]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[RTID 0648-XF039; Docket No. 250312-0037]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear 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; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by catcher/
processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf
of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2025 total
allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher/processors using
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been or will
be reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 14, 2025,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 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 GOA (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.
The 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to
catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA is 626 metric tons as established by the final 2025 and 2026
harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (90 FR 12468, March
18, 2025).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS
[[Page 31900]]
(Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2025 TAC of Pacific
cod allocated to catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA has been or will be reached. Therefore, NMFS
is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod caught by catcher/processors
using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA and
requiring that Pacific cod caught by catcher/processors using trawl
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated in the same
manner as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(a)(2) for
the remainder of the year. This action is necessary to prevent
exceeding the 2025 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to catcher/processors
using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
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-Steven 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 prohibiting the retention of
Pacific cod by catcher/processors using trawl gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant
data on Pacific cod harvest by catcher/processors in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA only became available as of July 11, 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 14, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-13303 Filed 7-14-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 16, 2025.
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