Rule2026-16156
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reapportionment of Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
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
August 7, 2026
Effective
August 7, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is reapportioning the unused amounts of the Pacific cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit to the Pacific cod trawl limited access catcher vessel sector C season in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI).
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 151 (Friday, August 7, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 151 (Friday, August 7, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51105-51106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-16156]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 260305-0066; RTID 0648-XF877]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska;
Reapportionment of Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reapportioning the unused amounts of the Pacific cod
Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program halibut prohibited species catch (PSC)
limit to the Pacific cod trawl limited access catcher vessel sector C
season in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI).
DATES: Effective August 7, 2026, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), November 1, 2026.
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 2026 Pacific cod fishery halibut PSC limits specified for the
PCTC Program A and B seasons (January 20-June 10) is 220 metric tons
(mt) and for the trawl catcher vessel C season (June 10-November 1) it
is 15 mt as established by the final 2026 and 2027 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 11750, March 10,
2026). Halibut PSC limits for the Pacific cod fishery are apportioned
between the PCTC Program, the trawl limited access catcher vessel
sector C season, and American Fisheries Act catcher/processors as
established under Sec. 679.131(c). Any unused PCTC Program halibut PSC
limits may be reapportioned to the trawl limited access catcher vessel
sector C season under Sec. 679.131(c)(3).
The Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator) has determined that during the A and B seasons 100 mt of
halibut PSC limit apportioned to the PCTC Program was not caught. The B
season closed on June 10, 2026. The Regional Administrator also
determined that reallocating the PCTC Program's unused halibut PSC
limit to the trawl limited access catcher vessel sector C season is
appropriate. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.131(c)(3) and (h),
NMFS reapportions 100 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the PCTC Program
to the trawl limited access catcher vessel sector C season, which
increases this sector's halibut PSC limit apportionment to 115 mt. This
action is authorized by Sec. 679.131(c)(3) and (h), which allows for
unused halibut PSC limits to be reapportioned to the C season, and is
necessary to account for the trawl catcher vessel sector's C season
halibut PSC.
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 from providing an accounting of the
reapportionment of unused halibut PSC limits to the trawl limited
access catcher vessel C season authorized under Sec. 679.131. Without
this authorized reapportionment, this could result in exceeding the
halibut PSC limit for the trawl limited access catcher vessel sector.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
because the most recent relevant data for halibut PSC by those
[[Page 51106]]
sectors harvesting Pacific cod only became available as of August 4,
2026.
There is also good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-
day delay in effective date. 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: August 4, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-16156 Filed 8-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 7, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.