Rule2026-20177
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of Flatfish 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
October 1, 2026
Effective
October 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS is exchanging unused yellowfin sole and flathead sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for rock sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the CDQ fishery to optimize their total rock sole harvest in the BSAI.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62341-62343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20177]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 260305-0066; RTID 0648-XG085]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Exchange of
Flatfish 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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is exchanging unused yellowfin sole and flathead sole
Community Development Quota (CDQ) for rock sole CDQ acceptable
biological catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the CDQ
fishery to optimize their total rock sole harvest in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI 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 subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2026 flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ
allocations of the TACs specified for these species in the BSAI are
3,852 metric tons (mt), 8,025 mt, and 15,515 mt, respectively, as
established by the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 11750, March 10, 2026). The 2026 flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ ABC reserves are 5,532 mt,
8,905 mt, and 13,122 mt, respectively, as established by the final 2026
and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR
11750, March 10, 2026).
The Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) has
requested that NMFS exchange 200 mt of flathead sole TAC and 700 mt of
yellowfin sole TAC allocated to the CDQ sector for 900 mt of rock sole
CDQ ABC reserves pursuant to Sec. Sec. 679.31(d) and 679.4(p). NMFS
approves the completed Flatfish Exchange Application submitted by
NSEDC, which meets all the criteria specified at Sec. 679.4(p)(3).
Specifically, NSEDC has sufficient CDQ ABC reserves of rock sole and is
exchanging an equal amount of unused flathead sole and yellowfin sole
TACs allocated to the CDQ sector. Approval will not cause harvest to
exceed an ABC or ABC reserve for any of these species, NSEDC has not
received at least three approved flatfish exchanges, and NMFS can
approve the exchange before the end of the calendar year in which it
would be effective. Therefore, NMFS exchanges 200 mt of flathead sole
TAC and 700 mt of yellowfin sole TAC allocated to the CDQ sector for
900 mt of rock sole CDQ ABC reserves in the BSAI. This action also
decreases and increases the TACs and CDQ ABC reserves by the
corresponding amounts. Tables 13 and 15 of the final 2026 and 2027
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (91 FR 11750, March
10, 2026) are revised as follows:
Table 13--Final 2026 CDQ Reserves, ICAs, and Amendment 80 Sector and BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
TACs
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
Sector -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EAI CAI WAI BSAI BSAI BSAI
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TAC............................. 6144 5,441 12,000 35,800 75,900 144,300
CDQ............................. 657 582 1,284 3,652 8,925 14,815
ICA............................. 100 60 10 2,000 3,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access....... 539 480 214 n/a n/a 15,936
Amendment 80.................... 4,848 4,319 10,492 30,148 63,975 111,549
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Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. The 2026 CDQ reserves, ICAs, and
allocations for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March
18, 2026, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2026.
Table 15--Final 2026 and 2027 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, CDQ ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and
Yellowfin Sole
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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2026 Flathead 2026 Rock 2026 Yellowfin 2027 Flathead 2027 Rock 2027 Yellowfin
Sector sole sole sole sole \1\ sole \1\ sole \1\
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ABC......................................................... 87,700 158,225 267,639 87,700 158,225 267,639
TAC......................................................... 35,800 75,900 144,300 36,000 75,000 145,000
ABC surplus................................................. 51,900 82,325 123,339 51,700 83,225 122,639
ABC reserve................................................. 51,900 82,325 123,339 51,700 83,225 122,639
CDQ ABC reserve............................................. 5,732 8,005 13,822 5,532 8,905 13,122
Amendment 80 ABC reserve.................................... 46,168 74,320 109,517 46,168 74,320 109,517
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Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ The 2026 ABC surpluses and ABC reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are effective from 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2026,
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2026. The 2027 ABC surpluses and ABC reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are
effective from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2027, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 18, 2027. The 2027 allocations for Amendment 80 species between
Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the
program by November 1, 2026.
Fishermen are reminded that all actions and closures remain in full
force and effect. This reallocation does not rescind or modify closures
to directed fishing or actions prohibiting retention of a groundfish
species.
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
[[Page 62343]]
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 ongoing harvest of
rock sole in the BSAI by the CDQ sector. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public comment because the NSEDC Flatfish
Exchange Application was received on September 18, 2026, and this is
the most recent, relevant data on flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin. Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the
CDQ fishery for rock sole in the BSAI to be harvested in an expedient
manner.
There is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day
delay in the effective date of this action. 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 29, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-20177 Filed 9-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 1, 2026.
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