Rule2025-16435
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod 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
August 27, 2025
Effective
August 25, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher/processor vessels to amendment 80 vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 164 (Wednesday, August 27, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 27, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41802-41803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-16435]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XF149]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher/processor vessels to
amendment 80 vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2025 total
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 25, 2025, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Olson, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the
[[Page 41803]]
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.
The 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to AFA catcher/processor vessels
in the BSAI is 2,923 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2025
and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR
12640, March 18, 2025).
The 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to amendment 80 vessels in the
BSAI is 17,027 mt as established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18,
2025).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that AFA
catcher/processor vessels will not be able to harvest 750 mt of the AFA
catcher/processor vessels' 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those
vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(7). Therefore, in accordance
with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS reallocates 750 mt of Pacific cod
from AFA catcher/processor vessels to amendment 80 vessels, which has
the capability to harvest this reallocated amount of Pacific cod.
The harvest specifications for 2025 Pacific cod included in final
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR
12640, March 18, 2025) are revised as follows: 2,173 mt to AFA catcher/
processor vessels and 17,777 mt to amendment 80 vessels.
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 reallocation of Pacific
cod from AFA catcher/processor vessels to amendment 80 vessels. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data on Pacific cod harvest by those
sectors harvesting Pacific cod, as well as the potential capability to
harvest reallocated Pacific cod this fall, only became available as of
August 25, 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: August 25, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-16435 Filed 8-25-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 27, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.