[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 244 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 82389-82390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27918]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 200227-0066]
RTID 0648-XA724


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea 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 Pacific ocean perch 
in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 2020 Pacific Ocean perch total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering 
Sea subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 16, 
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 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 Pacific ocean perch TAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the 
BSAI is 12,043 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2020 and 
2021 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI and groundfish 
reserve release (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020).
    The Regional Administrator has determined that the 2020 TAC for 
Pacific Ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI will soon be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 12,003 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 40 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries. Consequently, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii),

[[Page 82390]]

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the 
Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. While this closure remains in effect 
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 Pacific ocean 
perch Bering Sea subarea in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a 
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, 
relevant data only became available as of December 14, 2020.

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

    Dated: December 15, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-27918 Filed 12-15-20; 4:15 pm]
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