Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

Issuing agencies

Abstract

NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) except by catcher/ processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. This action is necessary because the 2026 shortraker rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA for vessels other than Central GOA Rockfish Program catcher/processors will soon be or has been reached.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 65696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21184]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 260305-0067; RTID 0648-XG065]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker 
Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area 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 retention of shortraker rockfish in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) except by catcher/
processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are 
fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. This action is 
necessary because the 2026 shortraker rockfish total allowable catch 
(TAC) in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA for vessels other than 
Central GOA Rockfish Program catcher/processors will soon be or has 
been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 14, 
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 GOA (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 shortraker rockfish TAC in the Central Regulatory Area of 
the GOA for vessels other than catcher/processors checked-in to the 
Central GOA Rockfish Program who are fishing with a rockfish 
cooperative quota permit is 113 metric tons as established by the final 
2026 and 2027 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (91 FR 
11902, March 11, 2026).
    The Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS has determined that 
the 2026 TAC of shortraker rockfish for vessels other than catcher/
processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are 
fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit will soon be or has 
been reached. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), NMFS is 
prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory 
Area of the GOA and requiring that shortraker rockfish in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated in the same manner as a 
prohibited species, as described under Sec.  679.21(a)(2), for the 
remainder of the year, except for shortraker rockfish in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA caught by catcher vessels using hook-and-
line, pot, or jig gear as described in Sec.  679.20(j) or caught by 
catcher vessels using trawl gear participating in the electronic 
monitoring program as described in Sec.  679.21(a)(2). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2026 shortraker rockfish TAC in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. This action does not apply to 
catcher/processors checked-in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who 
are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. While this 
prohibition is effective the requirements of 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 the retention of 
shortraker rockfish for vessels other than catcher/processors checked-
in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program who are fishing with a rockfish 
cooperative quota permit. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing 
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data on the 
total catch of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of 
the GOA only became available as of October 13, 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: October 14, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-21184 Filed 10-14-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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