Rule2025-18896
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; “Other Rockfish” in the Aleutian Islands 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
September 29, 2025
Effective
September 26, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting retention of "other rockfish" in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2025 "other rockfish" total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI will soon be or has been reached.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 186 (Monday, September 29, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 186 (Monday, September 29, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46529-46530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18896]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XE887]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; ``Other
Rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands 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; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of ``other rockfish'' in the
Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2025
``other rockfish'' total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI will soon be or has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 26,
2025, through 2400 hours, 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
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
[[Page 46530]]
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 ``other rockfish'' TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of
the BSAI is 415 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2025 and
2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640,
March 18, 2025). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has
determined that the 2025 ``other rockfish'' TAC in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI will soon be or has been reached. Therefore, NMFS
is prohibiting retention of ``other rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI and requiring that ``other rockfish'' in the
Aleutian Islands subarea 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, except ``other rockfish'' species in the
Aleutian Islands subarea caught by 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 ``other rockfish'' TAC in the
Aleutian Islands subarea 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
``other rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands subarea 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 ``other
rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI only became
available as of September 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: September 25, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-18896 Filed 9-25-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 29, 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.