Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 76743 [2024-21448]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 182 / Thursday, September 19, 2024 / Rules and Regulations National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration access sector fishery. While this closure is effective, the maximum retainable amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. 50 CFR Part 679 Classification DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [Docket No. 240304–0068; RTID 0648– XD955] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of 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 Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in the CAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 16, 2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the BSAI prepared 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 2024 TAC of Atka mackerel, in the CAI, allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery was established as a directed fishing allowance of 1,489 metric tons by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024). 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 Atka mackerel in the CAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:57 Sep 18, 2024 Jkt 262001 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 the Atka mackerel directed fishing in the CAI for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of September 13, 2024. 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: September 16, 2024. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–21448 Filed 9–16–24; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 240304–0068; RTID 0648– XD945] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; ‘‘Other Rockfish’’ in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of 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 retention of ‘‘other rockfish’’ in the Aleutian SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 76743 Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2024 ‘‘other rockfish’’ total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI has been reached. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 16, 2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2024. 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 (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR parts 600 and 679. The 2024 ‘‘other rockfish’’ TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is 380 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the 2024 ‘‘other rockfish’’ TAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that ‘‘other rockfish’’ in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI be treated in the same manner as a prohibited species, as described under § 679.21(a), for the remainder of the year, except ‘‘other rockfish’’ species in the Aleutian Islands subarea caught by catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear as described in § 679.20(j). 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 prohibiting retention of ‘‘other rockfish’’ in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was E:\FR\FM\19SER1.SGM 19SER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 182 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 76743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21448]



[[Page 76743]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 240304-0068; RTID 0648-XD955]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Central Aleutian District 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 directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the 
Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in the 
CAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access 
sector fishery.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 16, 
2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) for Groundfish of the BSAI prepared 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 2024 TAC of Atka mackerel, in the CAI, allocated to vessels 
participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery was 
established as a directed fishing allowance of 1,489 metric tons by the 
final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 
(89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024).
    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 Atka 
mackerel in the CAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited 
access sector fishery. 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 the Atka 
mackerel directed fishing in the CAI for vessels participating in the 
BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a 
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, 
relevant data only became available as of September 13, 2024.
    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: September 16, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-21448 Filed 9-16-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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