Rule2025-19366
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels 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
October 2, 2025
Effective
October 3, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 189 (Thursday, October 2, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 189 (Thursday, October 2, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 47631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19366]
[[Page 47631]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0037; RTID 0648-XF263]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Catcher Vessels 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; modification of a closure; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher
vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the 2025 total
allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl
gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 3,
2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025. Comments must be
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t.,
October 17, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
docket number NOAA-NMFS-2024-0124 by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and
enter NOAA-NMFS-2024-0124 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Gretchen Harrington, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
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 Gulf of Alaska (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.
NMFS closed directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels
using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA on September
1, 2025 (90 FR 42337, September 2, 2025). NMFS has determined that as
of September 22, 2025, approximately 2,693 metric tons of Pacific cod
remain in the 2025 Pacific cod apportionment for catcher vessels using
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and
(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC)
of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA, NMFS is terminating the previous
closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher
vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. The
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) considered
the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) the current catch
of Pacific cod, including by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA, (2) the harvest capacity and stated
intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels participating in this
fishery, and (3) the remaining Pacific cod TAC available to harvest in
the fishing year
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 opening of directed
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 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 catch by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA only became available as of
September 22, 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.
Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery
for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested in an expedient manner.
Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit
written comments on this action to the above address until October 17,
2025.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 30, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-19366 Filed 9-30-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 2, 2025.
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