Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska, 7816-7817 [2021-02121]
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ACTION:
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Temporary rule; closure.
SUMMARY: NMFS implements an
accountability measure (AM) through
this temporary rule for commercial
harvest of king mackerel in the southern
zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf)
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) using
run-around gillnet gear. NMFS has
determined that the commercial annual
catch limit (ACL) for king mackerel
using run-around gillnet gear in the
southern zone of the Gulf EEZ has been
reached. Therefore, NMFS closes the
southern zone to commercial king
mackerel fishing using run-around
gillnet gear in the Gulf EEZ on January
28, 2021. This closure is necessary to
protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.
DATES: The closure is effective from 12
p.m. local time on January 28, 2021,
until 6 a.m. local time on January 18,
2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kelli O’Donnell, NMFS Southeast
Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–
5305, email: kelli.odonnell@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish
in the Gulf includes king mackerel,
Spanish mackerel, and cobia, and is
managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Coastal
Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf
of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP).
The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of
Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery
Management Councils and is
implemented by NMFS under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by
regulations at 50 CFR part 622. All
weights for Gulf migratory group king
mackerel (Gulf king mackerel) apply as
either round or gutted weight.
The commercial fishery for Gulf king
mackerel is divided into western,
northern, and southern zones. The
southern zone for Gulf king mackerel
encompasses an area of the Gulf EEZ off
Collier and Monroe Counties in south
Florida, which is the EEZ south of a line
extending due west from the boundary
of Lee and Collier Counties on the
Florida west coast, and south of a line
extending due east from the boundary of
Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties on
the Florida east coast (50 CFR
622.369(a)(1)(iii)).
The commercial ACL for Gulf king
mackerel is divided into separate ACLs
for hook-and-line and run-around
gillnet gear. The use of run-around
gillnets for king mackerel is restricted to
the Gulf southern zone. The commercial
gillnet quota (equivalent to the
commercial gillnet ACL) for Gulf king
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mackerel is 575,400 lb (260,997 kg)
during the fishing year from July 1,
2020, through June 30, 2021 (50 CFR
622.384(b)(1)(iii)(B)).
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.388(a)(1)
require NMFS to close any component
of the king mackerel commercial sector
when its applicable quota has been
reached, or is projected to be reached,
by filing a notification to that effect with
the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS
has determined that for the 2020–2021
fishing year, the commercial quota for
Gulf king mackerel on vessels using runaround gillnet gear in the southern zone
has been reached. Accordingly,
commercial fishing using such gear in
the southern zone is closed at 12 p.m.
local time on January 28, 2021, until 6
a.m. local time on January 18, 2022, the
beginning of the next fishing season,
i.e., the day after the 2022 Martin Luther
King, Jr. Federal holiday. Vessel
operators that have been issued a
Federal commercial permit to harvest
Gulf king mackerel using run-around
gillnet gear in the southern zone must
have landed ashore and bartered,
traded, or sold such king mackerel prior
to 12 p.m. local time on January 28,
2021.
Persons aboard a vessel using hookand-line gear in the southern zone for
which a Federal commercial permit for
Gulf king mackerel has been issued,
except persons aboard such a vessel also
issued a Federal commercial permit to
harvest Gulf king mackerel using runaround gillnet gear, may fish for or
retain Gulf king mackerel unless the
southern zone commercial quota for
hook-and-line gear has been met and the
hook-and-line component of the
commercial sector has been closed. In
addition, as long as the recreational
sector for Gulf king mackerel is open (50
CFR 622.384(e)(1)), a person aboard a
vessel that has a valid Federal
commercial gillnet permit for king
mackerel may continue to retain king
mackerel under the recreational bag and
possession limits set forth in 50 CFR
622.382(a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2).
During the commercial closure, Gulf
king mackerel harvested using runaround gillnet gear in the southern zone
may not be purchased or sold. This
prohibition does not apply to Gulf king
mackerel harvested using run-around
gillnet gear in the southern zone that
were harvested, landed ashore, and sold
prior to the closure and were held in
cold storage by a dealer or processor (50
CFR 622.384(e)(2)).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. This action is required by 50 CFR
PO 00000
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622.388(a)(1), 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 is
unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest. Such procedures are
unnecessary because the regulations
associated with the commercial quota
and associated AM for Gulf king
mackerel have already been subject to
notice and public comment, and all that
remains is to notify the public of the
closure. Prior notice and opportunity for
public comment on this action is
contrary to the public interest because
of the need to immediately implement
the closure to protect the Gulf king
mackerel resource. The capacity of the
fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of
the commercial quota, and any delay in
the closure could result in the
commercial quota being exceeded. Prior
notice and opportunity for public
comment would require time and would
potentially result in a harvest that
exceeds the commercial quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, there
is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3)
to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness of this action.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 27, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–02134 Filed 1–28–21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200221–0062; RTID 0648–
XA780]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using
pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area
of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action
E:\FR\FM\02FER1.SGM
02FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
is necessary to prevent exceeding the A
season allowance of the 2021 total
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod by
vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: This inseason action became
applicable at 1200 hours, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), January 22, 2021, and
remains in effect through 1200 hours,
A.l.t., June 10, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 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 Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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 A season allowance of the 2021
Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels
using pot gear in the Central Regulatory
Area of the GOA is 1,808 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the GOA (85 FR 13802,
March 10, 2020) and inseason
adjustment (85 FR 83834, December 23,
2020).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
determined that the A season allowance
of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC
apportioned to vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA
will soon be reached. Therefore, the
Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 1,800 mt
and is setting aside the remaining 8 mt
as bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific cod by
vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
While this closure is effective the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
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), 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
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15:58 Feb 01, 2021
Jkt 253001
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 the closure of Pacific
cod by vessels using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice
providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data
only became available as of January 19,
2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 27, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–02121 Filed 1–28–21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200227–0066; RTID 0648–
XA771]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal
to 60 Feet Length Overall Using Pot
Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels
greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3
meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using
pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the A season apportionment of the 2021
Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC)
allocated to catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using
pot gear in the BSAI.
DATES: This inseason action became
applicable at 1200 hours, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), January 21, 2021, and
remains in effect through 1200 hours,
A.l.t., September 1, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Krista Milani, 907–581–2062.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
PO 00000
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7817
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 A season apportionment of the
2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
catcher vessels greater than or equal to
60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in
the BSAI is 4,761 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020)
and inseason adjustment (85 FR 83473,
December 22, 2020).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the A season
apportionment of the 2021 Pacific cod
TAC allocated as a directed fishing
allowance to catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using
pot gear in the BSAI will soon be
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
cod by catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot
gear in the BSAI.
While this closure is effective the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
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), 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 the closure of Pacific
cod by catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot
gear in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to
publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of January 19, 2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.
E:\FR\FM\02FER1.SGM
02FER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7816-7817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02121]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200221-0062; RTID 0648-XA780]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Vessels Using Pot Gear 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA). This action
[[Page 7817]]
is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2021
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: This inseason action became applicable at 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), January 22, 2021, and remains in effect through
1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 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 Gulf of Alaska (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 A season allowance of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to
vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is
1,808 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (85 FR 13802, March
10, 2020) and inseason adjustment (85 FR 83834, December 23, 2020).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator has determined that the A season allowance of the 2021
Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels using pot gear in the Central
Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the
Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of
1,800 mt and is setting aside the remaining 8 mt as bycatch to support
other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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), 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 the closure of Pacific cod by
vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS
was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of
January 19, 2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 27, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-02121 Filed 1-28-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P