Rule2026-02489
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
February 9, 2026
Effective
February 6, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 26 (Monday, February 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5688-5689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02489]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 250312-0037; RTID 0648-XF462]
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 directed fishing of demersal shelf
rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of
the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) of demersal shelf rockfish in the
Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 6,
2026, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 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 2026 TAC of demersal shelf rockfish in the Western, Central,
and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 271 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (90 FR 12468, March 18, 2025).
The Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator), has determined that there is not sufficient demersal
shelf rockfish TAC to allow directed fishing in the Western, Central,
and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of the GOA and that 271 mt is
necessary as incidental catch to support other groundfish fisheries.
The Regional
[[Page 5689]]
Administrator has further determined that the 2026 demersal shelf
rockfish TAC in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas
of the GOA will be or has been reached. Therefore, in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 0 and is setting aside 271 mt as
incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator
finds that this directed fishing allowance will be or has been reached.
Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for demersal shelf
rockfish in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas of
the GOA to prevent exceeding the demersal shelf rockfish TAC.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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 the closure of directed fishing for 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 February 4, 2026.
There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to establish an
effective date less than 30 days after date of publication. 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: February 5, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-02489 Filed 2-5-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 9, 2026.
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