Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 229 / Friday, November 27, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 75923 

[FR Doc. 2020–26042 Filed 11–25–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 200227–0066] 

RTID 0648–XA676 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch 

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 ocean perch in the 

Eastern Aleutian district (EAI) 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 2020 

total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 

ocean perch in the EAI allocated to 

vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 

limited access sector fishery. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), November 23, 2020, 

through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 

2020. 

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 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 2020 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, 

in the EAI, allocated to vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access sector fishery was established as 

a directed fishing allowance of 938 

metric tons by the final 2020 and 2021 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020). 

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 

ocean perch in the EAI by vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

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. 

Classification 

This action responds to the best 

available information recently obtained 

from the fishery. The Assistant 

Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, 

(AA) finds good cause to waive the 

requirement to provide prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment 

pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 

U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement 

is impracticable and contrary to the 

public interest. This requirement is 

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 Pacific ocean 

perch directed fishery in the EAI 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 November 19, 2020. 

The AA 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. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: November 23, 2020. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–26217 Filed 11–23–20; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 200227–0066] 

RTID 0648–XA675 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel 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 Atka mackerel in the Bering 

Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian 

District (BS/EAI) 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 2020 total allowable catch 

(TAC) of Atka mackerel in the BS/EAI 

allocated to vessels participating in the 

BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), November 23, 2020, 

through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 

2020. 

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 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 2020 TAC of Atka mackerel, in 

the BS/EAI, allocated to vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access sector fishery was established as 

a directed fishing allowance of 2,100 

metric tons by the final 2020 and 2021 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020). 

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 BS/EAI by vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

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. 

Classification 

This action responds to the best 

available information recently obtained 

from the fishery. The Assistant 

Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, 

(AA) finds good cause to waive the 

requirement to provide prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment 

pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 

U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement 

is impracticable and contrary to the 

public interest. This requirement is 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
75924 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 229 / Friday, November 27, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 

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 Atka mackerel 

directed fishing in the BS/EAI 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 November 19, 2020. 

The AA 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. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: November 23, 2020. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–26213 Filed 11–23–20; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE P 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES