Rule2025-22107
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Primary source
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Published
December 5, 2025
Effective
December 4, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear to catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 232 (Friday, December 5, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 232 (Friday, December 5, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56064-56065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22107]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XF359]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters
(m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear to catcher/processors using
pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI).
This action is necessary to allow the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC)
of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 4, 2025, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (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 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 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI is 10,605
mt as established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18, 2025).
The 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher/processors using pot
gear in the BSAI is 1,894 mt 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 catcher
vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA will not be able
to harvest 200 mt of the 2025 Pacific cod TAC
[[Page 56065]]
allocated to those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(5).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(C), NMFS
reallocates 200 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear to the annual amount
specified for catcher/processers using pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2025 Pacific cod included in final
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR
12640, March 18, 2025) are revised as follows: 10,405 mt to catcher
vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear
and 2,094 mt to catcher/processors using pot gear.
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.
This requirement is 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 not allow for the full harvest of
the Pacific cod TACs by the sectors with harvesting capability. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data for Pacific cod harvest by those
sectors harvesting Pacific cod, as well as the potential capability to
harvest reallocated Pacific cod, only became available as of December
2, 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: December 2, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-22107 Filed 12-4-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 5, 2025.
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