Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 22, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 83473 

(B) Which mitigation and/or 

monitoring measures may need to be 

improved to reduce interactions with 

ringed seals; 

(C) The effectiveness and practicality 

of implementing mitigation and 

monitoring measures; 

(D) Any issues or concerns regarding 

implementation of mitigation and/or 

monitoring measures; and 

(E) Potential effects of interactions 

based on observation data; 

(v) Proposed updates (if any) to 

Wildlife Interaction Plan(s) or 

Mitigation and Monitoring Measures; 

and 

(vi) The methods used for detection of 

seals and seal structures with an 

assessment of their effectiveness. 

(2) In the event a seal is killed or 

seriously injured by ice road/trail 

activities, Hilcorp or Eni must 

immediately cease the specified 

activities and report the incident to the 

NMFS Office of Protected Resources 

(301–427–8401) and Alaska Region 

Stranding Coordinator (877–925–7773). 

The report must include the following 

information: 

(i) Time and date of the incident; 

(ii) Description of the incident; 

(iii) Environmental conditions (e.g., 

cloud over, and visibility); 

(iv) Description of all marine mammal 

observations in the 24 hours preceding 

the incident; 

(v) Species identification or 

description of the animal(s) involved; 

(vi) Fate of the animal(s); and 

(vii) Photographs or video footage of 

the animal(s). 

(3) In the event ice road/trail 

personnel discover a dead or injured 

seal but the cause of injury or death is 

unknown or believed not to be related 

to ice road/trail activities, Hilcorp or Eni 

must report the incident to the NMFS 

Office of Protected Resources (301–427– 

8401) and Alaska Region Stranding 

Coordinator (877–925–7773) within 48 

hours of discovery. 

§ 217.156 Letters of Authorization. 

(a) To incidentally take marine 

mammals pursuant to these regulations, 

Hilcorp and Eni must apply for and 

obtain an LOA. 

(b) An LOA, unless suspended or 

revoked, may be effective for a period of 

time not to exceed the expiration date 

of these regulations. 

(c) If an LOA expires prior to the 

expiration date of these regulations, 

Hilcorp or Eni may apply for and obtain 

a renewal of the LOA. 

(d) In the event of projected changes 

to the activity or to mitigation and 

monitoring measures required by an 

LOA, Hilcorp and Eni must apply for 

and obtain a modification of the LOA as 

described in § 217.57. 

(e) The LOAs shall set forth: 

(1) Permissible methods of incidental 

taking; 

(2) Means of effecting the least 

practicable adverse impact (i.e., 

mitigation) on the species, its habitat, 

and on the availability of the species for 

subsistence uses; and 

(3) Requirements for monitoring and 

reporting. 

(f) Issuance of the LOAs shall be 

based on a determination that the level 

of taking will be consistent with the 

findings made for the total taking 

allowable under these regulations. 

(g) Notice of issuance or denial of an 

LOA shall be published in the Federal 

Register within 30 days of a 

determination. 

§ 217.157 Renewals and modifications of 

Letters of Authorization. 

(a) An LOA issued under §§ 216.106 

of this chapter and 217.156 for the 

activity identified in § 217.150(a) shall 

be renewed or modified upon request by 

the applicant, provided that: 

(1) The proposed specified activity 

and mitigation, monitoring, and 

reporting measures, as well as the 

anticipated impacts, are the same as 

those described and analyzed for these 

regulations (excluding changes made 

pursuant to the adaptive management 

provision in paragraph (c)(1) of this 

section); and 

(2) NMFS determines that the 

mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 

measures required by the previous 

LOAs under these regulations were 

implemented. 

(b) For LOAs modification or renewal 

requests by the applicants that include 

changes to the activity or the mitigation, 

monitoring, or reporting (excluding 

changes made pursuant to the adaptive 

management provision in paragraph 

(c)(1) of this section) that do not change 

the findings made for the regulations or 

result in no more than a minor change 

in the total estimated number of takes 

(or distribution by species or years), 

NMFS may publish a notice of proposed 

LOAs in the Federal Register, including 

the associated analysis of the change, 

and solicit public comment before 

issuing the LOA. 

(c) The LOAs issued under §§ 216.106 

of this chapter and 217.156 for the 

activity identified in § 217.150(a) may 

be modified by NMFS under the 

following circumstances: 

(1) Adaptive management. NMFS may 

modify (including augment) the existing 

mitigation, monitoring, or reporting 

measures (after consulting with Hilcorp 

or Eni regarding the practicability of the 

modifications) if doing so creates a 

reasonable likelihood of more 

effectively accomplishing the goals of 

the mitigation and monitoring set forth 

in the preamble for these regulations. 

(i) Possible sources of data that could 

contribute to the decision to modify the 

mitigation, monitoring, or reporting 

measures in an LOA: 

(A) Results from Hilcorp or Eni’s 

monitoring from the previous year(s). 

(B) Results from other marine 

mammal and/or sound research or 

studies. 

(C) Any information that reveals 

marine mammals may have been taken 

in a manner, extent or number not 

authorized by these regulations or 

subsequent LOAs. 

(ii) If, through adaptive management, 

the modifications to the mitigation, 

monitoring, or reporting measures are 

substantial, NMFS will publish a notice 

of proposed LOA in the Federal 

Register and solicit public comment. 

(2) Emergencies. If NMFS determines 

that an emergency exists that poses a 

significant risk to the well-being of the 

species or stocks of marine mammals 

specified in LOAs issued pursuant to 

§§ 216.106 of this chapter and 217.156, 

an LOA may be modified without prior 

notice or opportunity for public 

comment. Notice would be published in 

the Federal Register within 30 days of 

the action. 

§§ 217.158—217.159 [Reserved] 

[FR Doc. 2020–26346 Filed 12–21–20; 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–XA727 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment 

to the 2021 Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands Pollock, Atka Mackerel, and 

Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch 

Amounts 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason 

adjustment; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2021 

total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for 

the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 


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83474 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 22, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 

(BSAI) pollock, Atka mackerel, and 

Pacific cod fisheries. This action is 

necessary because NMFS has 

determined these TACs are incorrectly 

specified, and will ensure the BSAI 

pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod 

TACs are the appropriate amounts based 

on the best available scientific 

information. This action is consistent 

with the goals and objectives of the 

Fishery Management Plan for 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and 

Aleutian Islands Management Area. 

DATES: Effective 0001 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2021, until 

the effective date of the final 2021 and 

2022 harvest specifications for BSAI 

groundfish, unless otherwise modified 

or superseded through publication of a 

notification in the Federal Register. 

Comments must be received at the 

following address no later than 4:30 

p.m., A.l.t., January 6, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by NOAA–NMFS–2019–0074, 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019- 

0074, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: 

Records. Mail comments to P.O. Box 

21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. 

Instructions: NMFS may not consider 

comments if they are sent by any other 

method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the 

comment period ends. All comments 

received are a part of the public record, 

and NMFS will post the comments for 

public viewing on www.regulations.gov 

without change. All personal identifying 

information (e.g., name, address), 

confidential business information, or 

otherwise sensitive information 

submitted voluntarily by the sender will 

be publicly accessible. NMFS will 

accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ 

A’’ in the required fields if you wish to 

remain anonymous). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mary Furuness, 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 (Council) 

under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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 final 2020 and 2021 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020) set 

the 2021 Aleutian Islands (AI) pollock 

TAC at 19,000 metric tons (mt), the 2021 

Bering Sea (BS) pollock TAC at 

1,450,000 mt, the 2021 BSAI Atka 

mackerel TAC at 54,482 mt, the 2021 BS 

Pacific cod TAC at 92,633 mt, and the 

2021 AI Pacific cod TAC at 13,796 mt. 

In December 2020, the Council 

recommended a 2021 BS pollock TAC of 

1,375,000 mt, which is less than the 

1,450,000 mt TAC established by the 

final 2020 and 2021 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI. The Council also recommended a 

2021 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC of 62,257 

mt, which is more than the 54,482 mt 

TAC established by the final 2020 and 

2021 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the BSAI. Furthermore, 

the Council recommended a 2021 BS 

Pacific cod TAC of 111,380 mt, and an 

AI Pacific cod TAC of 13,796 mt, which 

is more than the BS Pacific cod TAC of 

92,633 mt, and the same as the AI 

Pacific cod TAC of 13,796 mt 

established by the final 2020 and 2021 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI. The Council’s recommended 

2021 TACs, and the area and seasonal 

apportionments, are based on the Stock 

Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 

report (SAFE), dated November 2020, 

which NMFS has determined is the best 

available scientific information for these 

fisheries. 

Steller sea lions occur in the same 

location as the pollock, Atka mackerel, 

and Pacific cod fisheries and are listed 

as endangered under the Endangered 

Species Act (ESA). Pollock, Atka 

mackerel, and Pacific cod are a 

principal prey species for Steller sea 

lions in the BSAI. The seasonal 

apportionment of pollock, Atka 

mackerel, and Pacific cod harvest is 

necessary to ensure the groundfish 

fisheries are not likely to cause jeopardy 

of extinction or adverse modification of 

critical habitat for Steller sea lions. 

NMFS published regulations and the 

revised harvest limit amounts for 

pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod 

fisheries to implement Steller sea lion 

protection measures to insure that 

groundfish fisheries of the BSAI are not 

likely to jeopardize the continued 

existence of the western distinct 

population segment of Steller sea lions 

or destroy or adversely modify their 

designated critical habitat (79 FR 70286, 

November 25, 2014). 

In accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), 

(a)(2)(i)(B), and (a)(2)(iv), the 

Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS 

(Regional Administrator), has 

determined that, based on the November 

2020 SAFE report for this fishery, the 

current BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, 

and Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly 

specified. Pursuant to § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), 

the Regional Administrator is adjusting 

the 2021 BS pollock TAC to 1,375,000 

mt, the 2021 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC 

to 62,257 mt, and the 2021 BS Pacific 

cod TAC to 111,380 mt. Therefore, 

Table 2 of the final 2020 and 2021 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

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

is revised consistent with this 

adjustment. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i) and (iii), 

Table 5 of the final 2020 and 2021 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

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

is revised for the 2021 BS and AI 

allocations of pollock TAC to the 

directed pollock fisheries and to the 

Community Development Quota (CDQ) 

directed fishing allowances consistent 

with this adjustment. 

TABLE 5—FINAL 2021 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ 

DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Area and sector 2021 Allocations 

2021 A season 1 2021 B season 1

A season 

DFA 

SCA harvest 

limit 2

B season 

DFA 

Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ...................................................................... 1,375,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ................................................................................................. 137,500 61,875 38,500 75,625 

ICA1 ......................................................................................................... 49,500 n/a n/a n/a 

Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA ............................................................. 1,188,000 534,600 332,640 653,400 


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TABLE 5—FINAL 2021 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ 

DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Area and sector 2021 Allocations 

2021 A season 1 2021 B season 1

A season 

DFA 

SCA harvest 

limit 2

B season 

DFA 

AFA Inshore ............................................................................................. 594,000 267,300 166,320 326,700 

AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ....................................................................... 475,200 213,840 133,056 261,360 

Catch by CPs ................................................................................... 434,808 195,664 n/a 239,144 

Catch by CVs 3 ................................................................................. 40,392 18,176 n/a 22,216 

Unlisted CP Limit 4 ............................................................................ 2,376 1,069 n/a 1,307 

AFA Motherships ..................................................................................... 118,800 53,460 33,264 65,340 

Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 .................................................................... 207,900 n/a n/a n/a 

Excessive Processing Limit 6 ................................................................... 356,400 n/a n/a n/a 

Aleutian Islands subarea ABC ................................................................. 58,384 n/a n/a n/a 

Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 ............................................................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ................................................................................................. 1,900 1,900 n/a ............................

ICA ........................................................................................................... 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200 

Aleut Corporation ..................................................................................... 14,700 14,700 n/a ............................

Area harvest limit 7 ................................................................................... n/a n/a n/a n/a 

541 .................................................................................................... 17,515 n/a n/a n/a 

542 .................................................................................................... 8,758 n/a n/a n/a 

543 .................................................................................................... 2,919 n/a n/a n/a 

Bogoslof District ICA8 .............................................................................. 250 n/a n/a n/a 

1Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4 percent), is 

allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (CP)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In 

the Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the 

B season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) through (iii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. 

In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is allocated up to 40 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. 2 In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the 

SCA before noon, April 1. 3Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed CPs shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP sector cooperative for the year. 4Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/ 

processor sector’s allocation of pollock. 5Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ 

pollock DFAs. 6Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ 

pollock DFAs. 7Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in 

Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. 8Pursuant to § 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch 

only and are not apportioned by season or sector. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8), Table 7 of 

the final 2020 and 2021 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020) is 

revised for the 2021 seasonal and spatial 

allowances, gear shares, CDQ reserve, 

incidental catch allowance, jig, BSAI 

trawl limited access, and Amendment 

80 allocations of the BSAI Atka 

mackerel TAC consistent with this 

adjustment. 

TABLE 7—FINAL 2021 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH

ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2021 Allocation by area 

Eastern 

aleutian 

district/ 

Bering Sea 

Central 

aleutian 

district 5

Western 

aleutian 

district 

TAC ................................................................ n/a ................................................................... 25,760 15,450 21,047 

CDQ reserve .................................................. Total ................................................................ 2,756 1,653 2,252 

A ...................................................................... 1,378 827 1,126 

Critical Habitat ................................................. n/a 496 676 

B ...................................................................... 1,378 827 1,126 

Critical Habitat ................................................. n/a 496 676 

Non-CDQ TAC ............................................... n/a ................................................................... 23,004 13,797 18,795 

ICA ................................................................. Total ................................................................ 800 75 20 

Jig 6 ................................................................. Total ................................................................ 111 ........................ ........................

BSAI trawl limited access .............................. Total ................................................................ 2,209 1,372 ........................


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83476 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 22, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 7—FINAL 2021 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH

ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2021 Allocation by area 

Eastern 

aleutian 

district/ 

Bering Sea 

Central 

aleutian 

district 5

Western 

aleutian 

district 

A ...................................................................... 1,105 686 ........................

Critical Habitat ................................................. n/a 412 ........................

B ...................................................................... 1,105 686 ........................

Critical Habitat ................................................. n/a 412 ........................

Amendment 80 sector .................................... Total ................................................................ 19,883 12,350 18,775 

A ...................................................................... 9,942 6,175 9,387 

Critical Habitat ................................................. n/a 3,705 5,632 

B ...................................................................... 9,942 6,175 9,387 

Critical Habitat ................................................. n/a 3,705 5,632 

1Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). 2Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 

3The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. 

4Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B 

season from June 10 to December 31. 5Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of Steller sea 

lion critical habitat; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); 

and section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543. 6Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated 

to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of this allocation for 2021 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7), Table 9 of 

the final 2020 and 2021 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020) is 

revised for the 2021 gear shares and 

seasonal allowances of the BSAI Pacific 

cod TAC consistent with this 

adjustment. 

TABLE 9—FINAL 2021 SECTOR ALLOCATIONS AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector Percent 2021 Share of 

total 

2021 Share of 

sector total 

2021 Seasonal apportionment 

Season Amount 

BS TAC ............................................................. n/a 111,380 n/a n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

BS CDQ ............................................................. n/a 11,918 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ..................................... n/a 

BS non-CDQ TAC ............................................. n/a 99,462 n/a n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

AI TAC ............................................................... n/a 13,796 n/a n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

AI CDQ .............................................................. n/a 1,476 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ..................................... n/a 

AI non-CDQ TAC .............................................. n/a 12,320 n/a n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

Western Aleutian Island Limit ........................... n/a 2,166 n/a n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 .............................. 100 111,782 n/a n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

Total hook-and-line/pot gear ............................. 60.8 67,964 n/a n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot ICA2 ..................................... n/a 400 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) .................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot sub-total ............................... n/a 67,564 n/a n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line catcher/processor ...................... 48.7 n/a 54,118 Jan 1–Jun 10 ....................................................

Jun 10–Dec 31 ..................................................

27,600 

26,518 

Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥60 ft LOA ......... 0.2 n/a 222 Jan 1–Jun 10 .................................................... 113 

Jun 10–Dec 31 .................................................. 109 

Pot catcher/processor ....................................... 1.5 n/a 1,667 Jan 1–Jun 10 .................................................... 850 

Sept 1–Dec 31 .................................................. 817 

Pot catcher vessel ≥60 ft LOA .......................... 8.4 n/a 9,334 Jan 1–Jun 10 .................................................... 4,761 

Sept 1–Dec 31 .................................................. 4,574 

Catcher vessel <60 ft LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear.

2.0 n/a 2,222 n/a ..................................................................... n/a 

Trawl catcher vessel ......................................... 22.1 24,704 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ..................................................... 18,281 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ..................................................... 2,717 

Jun 10–Nov 1 .................................................... 3,706 

AFA trawl catcher/processor ............................. 2.3 2,571 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ..................................................... 1,928 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ..................................................... 643 

Jun 10–Nov 1 .................................................... ........................

Amendment 80 .................................................. 13.4 14,979 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ..................................................... 11,234 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ..................................................... 3,745 

Jun 10–Dec 31 .................................................. ........................

Jig ...................................................................... 1.4 1,565 n/a Jan 1–Apr 30 ..................................................... 939 

Apr 30–Aug 31 .................................................. 313 


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TABLE 9—FINAL 2021 SECTOR ALLOCATIONS AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector Percent 2021 Share of 

total 

2021 Share of 

sector total 

2021 Seasonal apportionment 

Season Amount 

Aug 31–Dec 31 ................................................. 313 

1The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of the 

reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is or will be reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea will be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains (§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). 2The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The 

Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 400 mt for 2021 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

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 allow for harvests that 

exceed the appropriate allocations for 

pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod 

in the BSAI based on the best scientific 

information available. NMFS was 

unable to publish a notice providing 

time for public comment because the 

most recent, relevant data only became 

available as of December 12, 2020. 

Without this inseason adjustment, 

NMFS could not allow the fishery for 

pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod 

in the BSAI to be harvested in an 

expedient manner and in accordance 

with the regulatory schedule. Under 

§ 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments on 

this action to the above address until 

January 6, 2021. 

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

Dated: December 17, 2020. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–28190 Filed 12–21–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES