Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 22362 [2021-08823]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 28, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
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 2021 Greenland turbot ITAC in
the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI
is 765 metric tons (mt) as established by
the final 2021 and 2022 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021).
The Regional Administrator has
determined that the 2021 ITAC for
Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of the BSAI is necessary to
account for the incidental catch of this
species in other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2021 fishing year.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the directed
fishing allowance for Greenland turbot
in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the
BSAI as zero mt. Consequently, in
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
subarea of 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
Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands
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 of April 22, 2021.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:50 Apr 27, 2021
Jkt 253001
Dated: April 23, 2021.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–08824 Filed 4–27–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210217–0022; RTID 0648–
XA961]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by
Catcher Vessels Using Trawl 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:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels
using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the B season
apportionment of the 2021 Pacific cod
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the
BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), April 23, 2021,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10,
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
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 B season apportionment of the
2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the
BSAI is 2,717 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2021 and 2022
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25,
2021).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
determined that the B season
apportionment of the 2021 Pacific cod
TAC allocated to trawl catcher vessels
in the BSAI will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 1,700 mt and is setting
aside the remaining 1,017 mt as
incidental catch 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 catcher vessels using trawl 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 directed fishing
closure of Pacific cod by catcher vessels
using trawl 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 April 22, 2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 23, 2021.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–08823 Filed 4–23–21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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28APR1
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 28, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 22362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08823]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210217-0022; RTID 0648-XA961]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear 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; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the B season apportionment of the 2021 Pacific cod total allowable
catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 23,
2021, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 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 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 B season apportionment of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI is 2,717 metric tons (mt)
as established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the B season
apportionment of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl catcher
vessels in the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,700 mt
and is setting aside the remaining 1,017 mt as incidental catch 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 catcher vessels using
trawl gear in the BSAI.
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 directed fishing closure
of Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl 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
April 22, 2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 23, 2021.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-08823 Filed 4-23-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
