Rule2025-22141
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Demersal Shelf Rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas 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
December 5, 2025
Effective
December 4, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting retention of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA has been or will be reached.
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]
[Page 56064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22141]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0037; RTID 0648-XF307]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Demersal
Shelf Rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory
Areas 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 demersal shelf rockfish in
the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2025 total allowable
catch (TAC) of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central, and
West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA has been or will be reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 4,
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 subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50
CFR part 679.
The 2025 TAC of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central,
and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 271 metric tons as
established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (90 FR 12468, March 18, 2025).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS, has determined that the 2025 demersal shelf rockfish TAC
in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA
has been or will be reached. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting retention
of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat
Regulatory Areas of the GOA and requiring that demersal shelf rockfish
in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA
be treated in the same manner as a prohibited species in accordance
with Sec. 679.21(a)(2) for the remainder of the year, except for
demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat
Regulatory Areas of the GOA caught by catcher vessels using hook-and-
line, pot, or jig gear as described in Sec. 679.20(j) or caught by
catcher vessels using trawl gear participating in the electronic
monitoring program as described in Sec. 679.21(a)(2). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025 TAC of demersal shelf rockfish
in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA.
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 demersal shelf rockfish catch in a timely fashion and would
delay prohibiting retention of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western,
Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most
recent, relevant data on demersal shelf rockfish catch only became
available as of December 3, 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 3, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-22141 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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