Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 47240-47241 [2021-18096]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 24, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
season dates was developed. This action
should be implemented as soon as
possible to allow fishery participants to
take advantage of the additional fishing
dates prior to the end of the season. As
the fishery closes on September 30,
2021, implementing this action through
proposed and final rulemaking would
limit the benefit this action would
provide to fishery participants. Without
implementation of additional season
dates, the combined Washington and
Columbia River subarea allocations
would not be harvested, limiting
economic benefits to the participants
and not meeting the goals of the Catch
Sharing Plan and the 2021 management
measures. It is necessary that this
rulemaking be implemented in a timely
manner so that planning for these new
fishing days can take place, and for
business and personal decision making
by the regulated public impacted by this
action, which includes recreational
charter fishing operations, associated
port businesses, and private anglers who
do not live near the coastal access
points for this fishery, among others. To
ensure the regulated public is fully
aware of this action, notice of this
regulatory action will also be provided
to anglers through a telephone hotline,
news release, and by the relevant state
fish and wildlife agencies. NMFS will
receive public comments for 15 days
after publication of this action, in
accordance with 50 CFR 300.63(c)(4)(ii).
No aspect of this action is controversial,
and changes of this nature were
anticipated in the process described in
regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c).
For the reasons discussed above, there
is also good cause under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in
effective date and make this action
effective immediately upon filing for
public inspection, as a delay in
effectiveness of this action would
constrain fishing opportunity and be
inconsistent with the goals of the Catch
Sharing Plan and current management
measures, as well as potentially limit
the economic opportunity intended by
this rule to the associated fishing
communities. NMFS regulations allow
the Regional Administrator to modify
sport fishing periods, bag limits, size
limits, days per calendar week, and
subarea quotas, provided that the action
allows allocation objectives to be met
and will not result in exceeding the
catch limit for the subarea. NMFS
recently received information on the
progress of landings in the recreational
fisheries in Washington subareas,
indicating additional dates should be
added to the fishery to ensure optimal
and sustainable harvest of the quota. As
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15:55 Aug 23, 2021
Jkt 253001
stated above, it is in the public interest
that this action is not delayed, because
a delay in the effectiveness of these new
dates would not allow the allocation
objectives of this fishery to be met.
Dated: August 19, 2021.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–18211 Filed 8–20–21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210217–0022]
RTID 0648–XB349
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of
Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amount of Pacific cod
from vessels using jig gear and catcher
vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet
(18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA)
using hook-and-line gear to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to allow the 2021 total
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to
be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 23, 2021,
through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Krista Milani, 907–581–2062.
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 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified
for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
1,565 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 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified
for catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-andline gear in the BSAI is 222 mt as
established by the final 2021 and 2022
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25,
2021).
The 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m)
LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in
the BSAI is 2,222 mt as established by
final 2021 and 2022 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021).
The Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has
determined that jig vessels will not be
able to harvest 1,500 mt of the 2021
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those
vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1) and
catcher vessels greater than or equal to
60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-andline gear will not be able to harvest 222
mt of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC
allocated to those vessels under
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3).
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions
1,500 mt of Pacific cod from the jig
vessels to the annual amount specified
for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3
m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
Also, in accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS reallocates
222 mt from the catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line gear to the annual
amount specified for catcher vessels less
than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hookand-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2021
Pacific cod included in final 2021 and
2022 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449,
February 25, 2021) is revised as follows:
65 mt to vessels using jig gear, 0 mt to
catcher vessels greater than or equal to
60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-andline gear, and 3,944 mt to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear.
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. This requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 24, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would
allow for harvests that exceed the
originally specified apportionment of
the Pacific cod TAC. NMFS was unable
to publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:55 Aug 23, 2021
Jkt 253001
recent, relevant data only became
available as of August 18, 2021.
The Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA 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.
PO 00000
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47241
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 18, 2021.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–18096 Filed 8–23–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\24AUR1.SGM
24AUR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47240-47241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18096]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210217-0022]
RTID 0648-XB349
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation
of Pacific Cod 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific
cod from vessels using jig gear and catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-
line gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-
and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2021 total allowable
catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 23, 2021, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Milani, 907-581-2062.
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 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified for vessels using jig gear in
the BSAI is 1,565 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 2021 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI
is 222 mt as established by the final 2021 and 2022 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25,
2021).
The 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 2,222
mt as established by final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR 11449, February 25, 2021).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)
has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,500 mt of
the 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1) and catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60
feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear will not be able to harvest
222 mt of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under
Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3).
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS
apportions 1,500 mt of Pacific cod from the jig vessels to the annual
amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear. Also, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS reallocates 222 mt from the catcher vessels
greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear
to the annual amount specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet
(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for 2021 Pacific cod included in final
2021 and 2022 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (86 FR
11449, February 25, 2021) is revised as follows: 65 mt to vessels using
jig gear, 0 mt to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet
(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line gear, and 3,944 mt to catcher vessels
less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
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.
This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public
[[Page 47241]]
interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent
fisheries data in a timely fashion and would allow for harvests that
exceed the originally specified apportionment of the Pacific cod TAC.
NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of
August 18, 2021.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 18, 2021.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18096 Filed 8-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P