Rule2026-18583
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Blackspotted and Rougheye Rockfish in the Central Aleutian and Western Aleutian Districts of 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
September 11, 2026
Effective
September 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is prohibiting retention of blackspotted and rougheye rockfish in the Central Aleutian and Western Aleutian districts (CAI/ WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2026 blackspotted and rougheye rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI will soon be or has been reached.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57805-57806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18583]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 260305-0066; RTID 0648-XF984]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Blackspotted
and Rougheye Rockfish in the Central Aleutian and Western Aleutian
Districts of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
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 blackspotted and rougheye
rockfish in the Central Aleutian and Western Aleutian districts (CAI/
WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI).
This action is necessary because the 2026 blackspotted and rougheye
rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI will
soon be or has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 9,
2026, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-206-6783.
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 blackspotted and rougheye rockfish TAC in the CAI/WAI of
the BSAI is 325 metric tons as established by the final 2026 and 2027
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 11750, March
10, 2026).
The Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS has determined that
the 2026 blackspotted and rougheye rockfish TAC in the CAI/WAI of the
BSAI will soon be or has been reached. Therefore, in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(2), NMFS is prohibiting retention of blackspotted and
rougheye rockfish in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI
[[Page 57806]]
and requiring that blackspotted and rougheye rockfish in the CAI/WAI of
the BSAI be treated in the same manner as a prohibited species, as
described under Sec. 679.21(a), for the remainder of the year, except
blackspotted and rougheye rockfish species in the CAI/WAI caught by
catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear as described in
Sec. 679.20(j). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2026
blackspotted and rougheye rockfish TAC in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI.
While this prohibition is effective the requirements at Sec.
679.20(j)(4) apply.
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 prohibiting retention of
blackspotted and rougheye rockfish in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI. NMFS was
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because
the most recent, relevant data on the total catch of blackspotted and
rougheye rockfish in the CAI/WAI of the BSAI only became available as
of September 8, 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: September 8, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-18583 Filed 9-9-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 11, 2026.
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