Rule2025-20612
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Big Skates 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
November 21, 2025
Effective
November 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting retention of big skates in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of big skates in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52567-52568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20612]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0037; RTID 0648-XE689]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Big Skates
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; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of big skates in the Central
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary
because the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of big skates in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 21,
2025, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Zaleski, 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 50 CFR part 600, subpart H, and 50
CFR part 679.
The 2025 TAC of big skates in the Central Regulatory Area of the
GOA is 1,749 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2025 and 2026
harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (90 FR 12468, March
18, 2025).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2025 TAC
of big skates in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been
reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that big skates in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in
accordance with Sec. 679.21(a)(2).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens
[[Page 52568]]
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 the retention of
big skates 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 only became available as of November 18, 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: November 19, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-20612 Filed 11-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 21, 2025.
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