Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 13704 [2025-05041]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05041]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 250312-0036]
RTID 0648-XE799


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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod total allowable catch (TAC) from vessels using jig gear to catcher 
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using 
hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) 
management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season 
apportionment of the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be 
harvested.

DATES: Effective March 20, 2025, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Olson, 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 and 
recommended 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 A season apportionment of the 2025 Pacific cod TAC specified 
for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,067 metric tons (mt) as 
established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18, 2025).
    The 2025 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 2,525 
mt as established by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18, 2025).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has 
determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,000 mt of the 
A season apportionment of the 2025 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those 
vessels under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance 
with and as required by Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions 
1,000 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment 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 2025 Pacific cod included in final 
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 
12640, March 18, 2025) are revised as follows: 67 mt to the A season 
apportionment and 779 mt to the annual amount for vessels using jig 
gear, and 3,525 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA 
using hook-and-line or pot gear.

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) 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 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 reallocation of Pacific 
cod specified from jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet 
(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. NMFS was unable to 
publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as of March 18, 2025.
    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 20, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-05041 Filed 3-20-25; 4:15 pm]
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