Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 40609 [2020-14591]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 7, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14591]



[[Page 40609]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 200227-0066; RTID 0648-XY096]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in 
the Bering Sea Subarea 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 non-Community Development 
Quota (CDQ) sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea 
subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). 
This action is necessary because the 2020 non-CDQ sablefish initial 
total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI will 
be reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 1, 2020, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2020.

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 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 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 2020 non-CDQ sablefish trawl ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of 
the BSAI is 791 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2020 and 
2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (85 FR 13553, 
March 9, 2020). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
determined that the 2020 non-CDQ sablefish trawl ITAC in the Bering Sea 
subarea of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring 
that non-CDQ sablefish caught with vessels using trawl gear in the 
Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI be treated as prohibited species in 
accordance with 679.21(b).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is 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 
would delay the prohibited retention of non-CDQ sablefish by vessels 
using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable 
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as June 30, 2020.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    This action is required by Sec. Sec.  679.20 and 679.21 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 1, 2020.
H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-14591 Filed 7-1-20; 4:15 pm]
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