Rule2025-18771
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock Fishing in the Winter Herring Savings Area of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Primary source
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Published
September 26, 2025
Effective
September 25, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels using trawl gear in the Winter Herring Savings Area of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025 herring bycatch allowance specified for the midwater pollock fishery in the BSAI. This action includes prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in the Winter Herring Savings Area by vessels participating in the Community Development Quota Program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 185 (Friday, September 26, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 185 (Friday, September 26, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46358-46359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18771]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036, RTID 0648-XF193]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock
Fishing in the Winter Herring Savings Area 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 directed fishing for pollock by vessels
using trawl gear in the Winter Herring Savings Area of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary
to prevent exceeding the 2025 herring bycatch allowance specified for
the midwater pollock fishery in the BSAI. This action includes
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in the Winter Herring Savings
Area by vessels participating in the Community Development Quota
Program.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 25,
2025, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 1, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Olson, 907-586-7228.
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.
The 2025 herring bycatch allowance specified for the midwater
pollock fishery in the BSAI is 2,359 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, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the
2025 herring bycatch allowance specified for the midwater pollock
fishery in the
[[Page 46359]]
BSAI has been caught. Consequently, in accordance with Sec.
679.21(e)(7)(vi)(B)(1), NMFS is closing directed fishing for pollock by
vessels using trawl gear in the Winter Herring Savings Area of the BSAI
from 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 25, 2025, through 1200 hours,
A.l.t., March 1, 2026. This includes prohibiting directed fishing for
pollock in the Winter Herring Savings Area of the BSAI by vessels
participating in the Community Development Program. The Winter Herring
Savings Area is that part of the Bering Sea subarea that is between
58[deg] and 60[deg] North latitude and between 172[deg] and 175[deg]
West longitude from 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1 of the current
fishing year through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 1 of the succeeding
fishing year (Figure 4 to 50 CFR part 679).
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 on herring bycatch in a timely fashion, and would delay the
closure of directed fishing for pollock by vessels using trawl gear in
the Winter Herring Savings Area of the BSAI. Any delay in publishing
this directed fishing closure could result in further bycatch of
herring and exceedance of the herring bycatch allowance specified for
the midwater pollock fishery in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent,
relevant data on herring bycatch by vessels using trawl gear directed
fishing for pollock only became available as of September 24, 2025.
There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day
delay in the effective date of this action. 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 24, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-18771 Filed 9-24-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 26, 2025.
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