Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program, 12496-12497 [2025-04444]

Download as PDF khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with RULES 12496 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 51 / Tuesday, March 18, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Small Entity Compliance Guide Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule and shall designate such publications as ‘‘small entity compliance guides.’’ The agency shall explain the actions a small entity is required to take to comply with a rule or group of rules. The tables contained in this final rule are provided online and serve as the plain language guide to assist small entities in complying with this final rule as required by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule’s primary purpose is to announce the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the GOA. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management measures for groundfish during the 2025 and 2026 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the FMP. It is taken in accordance with the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and regulations at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680. This action affects all fishermen who participate in the GOA fisheries. The specific OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC amounts are provided in tables in this final rule to assist the reader. Affected fishery participants are advised to review this final rule, including its tables, which also contains plain language summaries of the underlying relevant regulations supporting the harvest specifications and the harvest of groundfish in the GOA that the reader may find helpful. Information to assist small entities in complying with this final rule is provided online. The OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC tables are individually available online at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/ sustainable-fisheries/alaska-groundfishharvest-specifications. Explanatory information on the relevant regulations supporting the harvest specifications is also found in footnotes to the tables. Harvest specification changes are also available from the same online source, which includes applicable Federal Register notices, information bulletins, and other supporting materials. NMFS will announce closures of directed fishing in the Federal Register and information bulletins released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishery participants should keep themselves informed of such closures. Copies of the VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:45 Mar 17, 2025 Jkt 265001 tables and/or this final rule are also available upon request. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540 (f), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106– 31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub. L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109– 479. Dated: March 12, 2025. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2025–04371 Filed 3–17–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 250312–0036 and 250312–0037] RTID 0648–XE771 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; opening. AGENCY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 20, 2025, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2025. This period is the same as the 2025 commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), except the hours are not the same. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season dates are the same as specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures, which should be referenced for the halibut specific open and closure times. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 20, 2025, until 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2025. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning in 1995, fishing for Pacific halibut and sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ regulatory areas defined in 50 CFR 679.2 has been managed under the IFQ Program. The IFQ Program is a SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 regulatory regime designed to promote the conservation and management of these fisheries and to further the objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act. Persons holding quota share receive an annual allocation of IFQ. Persons receiving an annual allocation of IFQ are authorized to harvest IFQ species within specified limitations. Further information on the implementation of the IFQ Program, and the rationale supporting it, are contained in the preamble to the final rule implementing the IFQ Program published in the Federal Register, November 9, 1993 (58 FR 59375) and subsequent amendments. Directed fishing for sablefish using fixed gear in any IFQ regulatory area is authorized only during the period specified by the Regional Administrator, who must take into account the opening date of the halibut season when determining the opening date for sablefish for the purposes of reducing bycatch and regulatory discards between the two fisheries (50 CFR 679.23(g)(1)). This announcement is consistent with and required by § 679.23(g)(1), which requires that the directed fishing season for sablefish managed under the IFQ Program be specified by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and announced by publication in the Federal Register. This method of season announcement was selected to facilitate coordination between the sablefish season, chosen by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and the halibut season, adopted by the IPHC. The directed fishing season for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the IFQ Program will open 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 20, 2025, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2025. This period runs concurrently with the IFQ season for Pacific halibut announced by the IPHC, except the hours are not the same. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season will be specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62. There is a difference in the time of day for opening and closing the halibut IFQ and CDQ commercial fishery and the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish commercial fishery. IPHC regulations open the halibut IFQ and CDQ fishery at 0600 hours, A.l.t., on March 20, 2025, and NMFS will open the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery at 1200 hours, A.l.t., on March 20, 2025, pursuant to regulations that require that the time of all openings and closures of fishing seasons, other than the beginning and end of the calendar E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM 18MRR1 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 51 / Tuesday, March 18, 2025 / Rules and Regulations khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with RULES fishing year, is 1200 hours, A.l.t. (50 CFR 679.23(b)). Therefore, if gear is deployed to fish for halibut in the commercial fishery off Alaska before 1200 hours, A.l.t., on March 20, 2025, then IFQ or CDQ sablefish caught from that deployment may not be retained. If a vessel operator holds both halibut and sablefish IFQ or CDQ, and the operator intends to retain sablefish on March 20, then the vessel should deploy its commercial fishing gear after 1200 hours, A.l.t. IPHC regulations close the halibut IFQ and CDQ fishery at 2359 hours, A.l.t., on December 7, 2025, and NMFS will close the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery at 1200 hours, A.l.t., on December 7, 2025 (50 CFR 679.23(b)). Therefore, if gear is deployed to fish for halibut in the commercial fishery off Alaska after 1200 hours, A.l.t., on December 7, 2025, then IFQ and CDQ sablefish caught from that deployment may only be retained up to the Maximum Retainable Amount (MRA). If a vessel operator holds both halibut and sablefish IFQ or CDQ, and the operator intends to retain sablefish on December VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:45 Mar 17, 2025 Jkt 265001 7, 2025, after 1200 hours, A.l.t., then the vessel may only retain IFQ or CDQ sablefish in accordance with the MRA regulations at § 679.20(e). 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 delay the opening of the sablefish fishery thereby preventing holders of sablefish IFQ and CDQ from participating in the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery, increasing bycatch and regulatory discards between the sablefish fishery and the halibut fishery, and preventing the accomplishment of the management objective for simultaneous opening of these two fisheries. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 12497 public comment because the relevant information for opening the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery only became available as of March 12, 2025. In addition, NMFS developed this action to open the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery concurrently with the halibut IFQ and CDQ fishery as quickly as possible given the other rulemakings necessary to provide notice of the harvest limits, allocations, and halibut season dates for the fisheries. 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: March 13, 2025. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2025–04444 Filed 3–14–25; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM 18MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 18, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12496-12497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04444]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 250312-0036 and 250312-0037]
RTID 0648-XE771


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish 
Managed Under the Individual Fishing Quota Program

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; opening.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear 
managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the 
Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 20, 2025, and will close 1200 
hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2025. This period is the same as the 2025 
commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International 
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), except the hours are not the same. 
The IFQ and CDQ halibut season dates are the same as specified by a 
separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management 
measures, which should be referenced for the halibut specific open and 
closure times.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 20, 2025, until 1200 hours, 
A.l.t., December 7, 2025.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning in 1995, fishing for Pacific 
halibut and sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ regulatory areas 
defined in 50 CFR 679.2 has been managed under the IFQ Program. The IFQ 
Program is a regulatory regime designed to promote the conservation and 
management of these fisheries and to further the objectives of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act. Persons holding 
quota share receive an annual allocation of IFQ. Persons receiving an 
annual allocation of IFQ are authorized to harvest IFQ species within 
specified limitations. Further information on the implementation of the 
IFQ Program, and the rationale supporting it, are contained in the 
preamble to the final rule implementing the IFQ Program published in 
the Federal Register, November 9, 1993 (58 FR 59375) and subsequent 
amendments.
    Directed fishing for sablefish using fixed gear in any IFQ 
regulatory area is authorized only during the period specified by the 
Regional Administrator, who must take into account the opening date of 
the halibut season when determining the opening date for sablefish for 
the purposes of reducing bycatch and regulatory discards between the 
two fisheries (50 CFR 679.23(g)(1)). This announcement is consistent 
with and required by Sec.  679.23(g)(1), which requires that the 
directed fishing season for sablefish managed under the IFQ Program be 
specified by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and announced by 
publication in the Federal Register. This method of season announcement 
was selected to facilitate coordination between the sablefish season, 
chosen by the Administrator, Alaska Region, and the halibut season, 
adopted by the IPHC. The directed fishing season for sablefish with 
fixed gear managed under the IFQ Program will open 1200 hours, A.l.t., 
March 20, 2025, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2025. 
This period runs concurrently with the IFQ season for Pacific halibut 
announced by the IPHC, except the hours are not the same. The IFQ and 
CDQ halibut season will be specified by a separate publication in the 
Federal Register of annual management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 
300.62.
    There is a difference in the time of day for opening and closing 
the halibut IFQ and CDQ commercial fishery and the Alaska IFQ and CDQ 
sablefish commercial fishery. IPHC regulations open the halibut IFQ and 
CDQ fishery at 0600 hours, A.l.t., on March 20, 2025, and NMFS will 
open the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery at 1200 hours, A.l.t., on 
March 20, 2025, pursuant to regulations that require that the time of 
all openings and closures of fishing seasons, other than the beginning 
and end of the calendar

[[Page 12497]]

fishing year, is 1200 hours, A.l.t. (50 CFR 679.23(b)). Therefore, if 
gear is deployed to fish for halibut in the commercial fishery off 
Alaska before 1200 hours, A.l.t., on March 20, 2025, then IFQ or CDQ 
sablefish caught from that deployment may not be retained. If a vessel 
operator holds both halibut and sablefish IFQ or CDQ, and the operator 
intends to retain sablefish on March 20, then the vessel should deploy 
its commercial fishing gear after 1200 hours, A.l.t.
    IPHC regulations close the halibut IFQ and CDQ fishery at 2359 
hours, A.l.t., on December 7, 2025, and NMFS will close the Alaska IFQ 
and CDQ sablefish fishery at 1200 hours, A.l.t., on December 7, 2025 
(50 CFR 679.23(b)). Therefore, if gear is deployed to fish for halibut 
in the commercial fishery off Alaska after 1200 hours, A.l.t., on 
December 7, 2025, then IFQ and CDQ sablefish caught from that 
deployment may only be retained up to the Maximum Retainable Amount 
(MRA). If a vessel operator holds both halibut and sablefish IFQ or 
CDQ, and the operator intends to retain sablefish on December 7, 2025, 
after 1200 hours, A.l.t., then the vessel may only retain IFQ or CDQ 
sablefish in accordance with the MRA regulations at Sec.  679.20(e).

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 delay the opening of the sablefish fishery thereby 
preventing holders of sablefish IFQ and CDQ from participating in the 
Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery, increasing bycatch and regulatory 
discards between the sablefish fishery and the halibut fishery, and 
preventing the accomplishment of the management objective for 
simultaneous opening of these two fisheries. NMFS was unable to publish 
a notice providing time for public comment because the relevant 
information for opening the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery only 
became available as of March 12, 2025. In addition, NMFS developed this 
action to open the Alaska IFQ and CDQ sablefish fishery concurrently 
with the halibut IFQ and CDQ fishery as quickly as possible given the 
other rulemakings necessary to provide notice of the harvest limits, 
allocations, and halibut season dates for the fisheries.
    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: March 13, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-04444 Filed 3-14-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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