Rule2025-23776
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Primary source
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Published
December 23, 2025
Effective
December 22, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS apportions amounts of the nonspecified reserves to the total allowable catch (TAC) of "other flatfish" and octopuses. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management (BSAI) management area.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60024-60025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23776]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0036; RTID 0648-XF374]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several
Groundfish Species 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; apportionment of reserves; request for
comments.
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[[Page 60025]]
SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the nonspecified reserves to the
total allowable catch (TAC) of ``other flatfish'' and octopuses. This
action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is
intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management
plan for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management (BSAI)
management area.
DATES: Effective December 22, 2025, through 2400 hours, Alaska local
time, December 31, 2025. Comments must be received at the following
address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, January 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
docket number NOAA-NMFS-2024-0116, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal e- Rulemaking Portal. Visit <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and
type NOAA-NMFS-2024-0116 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: Andrew Olson, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the BSAI 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 50 CFR part 679 and
subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.
The 2025 TAC for ``other flatfish'' was established as 5,225 metric
tons (mt) by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18, 2025) and
reapportionment of groundfish reserves (90 FR 27483, June 27, 2025).
The 2025 TAC and ITAC for octopuses was established as 400 mt and
340 mt, respectively, by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications
for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18, 2025).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(3), the Regional Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS, has reviewed the most current available data and
finds that the TAC for ``other flatfish'' and octopuses needs to be
supplemented from the nonspecified reserves to promote efficiency in
the utilization of fishery resources in the BSAI and allow fishing
operations to continue.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions
600 mt from the nonspecified reserves of groundfish in the BSAI
management area as follows: 500 mt to ``other flatfish'' and 100 mt to
octopuses. This apportionment is authorized by Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)
and consistent with Sec. 679.20(a)(3) and does not result in
overfishing of any target species because the revised TACs are equal to
or less than the specifications of the acceptable biological catch for
``other flatfish'' and octopuses in the final 2025 and 2026 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18,
2025).
The harvest specifications for the 2025 TACs included in the final
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI is
revised as follows: 5,725 mt for ``other flatfish'' and 440 mt for
octopuses.
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 apportionment of the
nonspecified reserves of groundfish to ``other flatfish'' and
octopuses. This action is necessary for the efficient utilization of
fishery resources in the BSAI and to allow the fisheries harvesting
these groundfish to continue operating. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent,
relevant data on catch of ``other flatfish'' and octopuses only became
available as of December 19, 2025. Finally, NMFS provided notice and an
opportunity for public comment on the proposed 2025 and 2026 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI that included the amount of
proposed nonspecified reserves from which NMFS can apportion to any
target species that contributed to that reserve (89 FR 96186, December
4, 2024). The final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish
in the BSAI explained that, during the fishing year, any amount of the
nonspecified reserve may be apportioned by NMFS to a target species
that contributed to the nonspecified reserves consistent with Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i) (90 FR 12640, March 18, 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.
Under Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES section) until
January 6, 2026.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 19, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-23776 Filed 12-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 23, 2025.
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