Rule2025-22854
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Western 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
December 16, 2025
Effective
December 15, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear and vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 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 239 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58172-58173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22854]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0037; RTID 0648-XF346]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
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 amounts of Pacific
cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using
hook-and-line gear and vessels using pot gear in the Western Regulatory
Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the
2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective December 15, 2025, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time (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 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 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels using trawl
gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,260 metric tons
(mt), as established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications
for groundfish in the GOA (90 FR 12468, March 18, 2025).
The 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels using hook-
and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 82 mt, as
established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the GOA (90 FR 12468, March 18, 2025).
The 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to vessels using pot gear in the
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,236 mt, as established by the
final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(90 FR 12468, March 18, 2025).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (the Administrator) has
determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able to
harvest 220 mt of the 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels
under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)(3). The Administrator, has also
determined that catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear and vessels
using pot gear have the capability to harvest additional Pacific cod
TAC.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), NMFS
apportions 70 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear
to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels using hook-and-line
gear and 150 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to
the annual amount specified for vessels using pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA included in the final
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (90 FR
12468, March 18, 2025) is revised as follows: 2,040 mt to catcher
vessels using trawl gear, 152 mt to catcher vessels using hook-and-line
gear, and 2,386 mt to vessels 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,
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 on the harvest
[[Page 58173]]
of Pacific cod by sectors operating in the Western Regulatory Area of
the GOA and the capability of certain sectors to harvest additional TAC
only became available as of December 8, 2025.
There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this action
effective immediately upon filing with the Office of the Federal
Register. 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 11, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-22854 Filed 12-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 16, 2025.
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