Rule2025-17771
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Blackspotted and Rougheye Rockfish in the Central Aleutian and Western Aleutian Districts of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Primary source
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Published
September 15, 2025
Effective
September 11, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting retention of blackspotted and rougheye rockfish in the Central Aleutian Island and Western Aleutian Island districts (CAI/WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2025 blackspotted and rougheye rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI will soon be or has been reached.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 176 (Monday, September 15, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 176 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44333-44334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17771]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XE947]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Blackspotted
and Rougheye Rockfish in the Central Aleutian and Western Aleutian
Districts 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; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of blackspotted and rougheye
rockfish in the Central Aleutian Island and Western Aleutian Island
districts (CAI/WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2025 blackspotted and
rougheye rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the CAI/WAI of the
BSAI will soon be or has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 11,
2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-206-6783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI 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.
The 2025 blackspotted and rougheye rockfish TAC in the CAI/WAI of
the BSAI is 298 metric tons as established by the final 2025 and 2026
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March
18, 2025). The Administrator for the Alaska Region of NMFS has
determined that the 2025 blackspotted and rougheye rockfish TAC in the
CAI/WAI of the BSAI will soon be or has been reached. Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), NMFS is prohibiting retention of
blackspotted and rougheye in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI and requiring that
blackspotted and rougheye rockfish in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI be
treated in the same manner as a prohibited species, as described under
Sec. 679.21(a), for the remainder of the year. Blackspotted and
rougheye rockfish species in the CAI/WAI caught by
[[Page 44334]]
catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear as described in
Sec. 679.20(j). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025
blackspotted and rougheye TAC in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI.
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 prohibiting retention of
blackspotted and rougheye rockfish in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because
the most recent, relevant data on the total catch of blackspotted and
rougheye in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI only became available as of
September 10, 2025.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of 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: September 11, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-17771 Filed 9-11-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 15, 2025.
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