Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 7817 

is necessary to prevent exceeding the A 

season allowance of the 2021 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod by 

vessels using pot gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

DATES: This inseason action became 

applicable at 1200 hours, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), January 22, 2021, and 

remains in effect through 1200 hours, 

A.l.t., June 10, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

GOA exclusive economic zone 

according to the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 

Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 

Pacific Fishery Management 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 A season allowance of the 2021 

Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels 

using pot gear in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA is 1,808 metric tons 

(mt) as established by the final 2020 and 

2021 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the GOA (85 FR 13802, 

March 10, 2020) and inseason 

adjustment (85 FR 83834, December 23, 

2020). 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), 

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the A season allowance 

of the 2021 Pacific cod TAC 

apportioned to vessels using pot gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 

will soon be reached. Therefore, the 

Regional Administrator is establishing a 

directed fishing allowance of 1,800 mt 

and is setting aside the remaining 8 mt 

as bycatch to support other anticipated 

groundfish fisheries. 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 cod by 

vessels using pot gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

While this closure is effective the 

maximum retainable amounts at 

§ 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 

cod by vessels using pot gear in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

NMFS was unable to publish a notice 

providing time for public comment 

because the most recent, relevant data 

only became available as of January 19, 

2021. 

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

Dated: January 27, 2021. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–02121 Filed 1–28–21; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 200227–0066; RTID 0648– 

XA771] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal 

to 60 Feet Length Overall Using Pot 

Gear 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 cod by catcher vessels 

greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 

meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using 

pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands management area (BSAI). This 

action is necessary to prevent exceeding 

the A season apportionment of the 2021 

Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) 

allocated to catcher vessels greater than 

or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using 

pot gear in the BSAI. 

DATES: This inseason action became 

applicable at 1200 hours, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), January 21, 2021, and 

remains in effect through 1200 hours, 

A.l.t., September 1, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Krista Milani, 907–581–2062. 

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 A season apportionment of the 

2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to 

catcher vessels greater than or equal to 

60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in 

the BSAI is 4,761 metric tons (mt) as 

established by the final 2020 and 2021 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

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

and inseason adjustment (85 FR 83473, 

December 22, 2020). 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), 

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 

determined that the A season 

apportionment of the 2021 Pacific cod 

TAC allocated as a directed fishing 

allowance to catcher vessels greater than 

or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using 

pot gear in the BSAI will soon be 

reached. Consequently, NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific 

cod by catcher vessels greater than or 

equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot 

gear in the BSAI. 

While this closure is effective the 

maximum retainable amounts at 

§ 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 

cod by catcher vessels greater than or 

equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot 

gear 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 January 19, 2021. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1901 et seq. 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
7818 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

Dated: January 27, 2021. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–02127 Filed 1–29–21; 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– 

XA783] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher Vessels Less Than 60 Feet 

(18.3 Meters) Length Overall Using 

Hook-and-Line or Pot Gear 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 cod by 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 management area (BSAI). This 

action is necessary to prevent exceeding 

the 2021 Pacific cod total allowable 

catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels 

less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using 

hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. 

DATES: This inseason action became 

applicable at 1200 hours, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), January 26, 2021, and 

remains in effect through 1200 hours, 

A.l.t., December 31, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Krista Milani, 907–581–2062. 

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 2021 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 3,122 metric tons as 

established by the final 2020 and 2021 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

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

inseason adjustment (85 FR 83473, 

December 22, 2020), and reallocation 

(86 FR 1301, January 8, 2021). 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), 

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 

determined that the 2021 Pacific cod 

TAC allocated as a directed fishing 

allowance to catcher vessels less than 60 

feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear in the BSAI will soon be 

reached. Consequently, NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific 

cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet 

(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or 

pot gear in the BSAI. 

While this closure is effective the 

maximum retainable amounts at 

§ 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 

cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet 

(18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or 

pot gear 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 January 25, 2021. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1901 et seq. 

Dated: January 27, 2021. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–02133 Filed 1–29–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES