7816 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS implements an 

accountability measure (AM) through 

this temporary rule for commercial 

harvest of king mackerel in the southern 

zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) 

exclusive economic zone (EEZ) using 

run-around gillnet gear. NMFS has 

determined that the commercial annual 

catch limit (ACL) for king mackerel 

using run-around gillnet gear in the 

southern zone of the Gulf EEZ has been 

reached. Therefore, NMFS closes the 

southern zone to commercial king 

mackerel fishing using run-around 

gillnet gear in the Gulf EEZ on January 

28, 2021. This closure is necessary to 

protect the Gulf king mackerel resource. 

DATES: The closure is effective from 12 

p.m. local time on January 28, 2021, 

until 6 a.m. local time on January 18, 

2022. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kelli O’Donnell, NMFS Southeast 

Regional Office, telephone: 727–824– 

5305, email: kelli.odonnell@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

fishery for coastal migratory pelagic fish 

in the Gulf includes king mackerel, 

Spanish mackerel, and cobia, and is 

managed under the Fishery 

Management Plan for the Coastal 

Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf 

of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP). 

The FMP was prepared by the Gulf of 

Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Councils and is 

implemented by NMFS under the 

authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by 

regulations at 50 CFR part 622. All 

weights for Gulf migratory group king 

mackerel (Gulf king mackerel) apply as 

either round or gutted weight. 

The commercial fishery for Gulf king 

mackerel is divided into western, 

northern, and southern zones. The 

southern zone for Gulf king mackerel 

encompasses an area of the Gulf EEZ off 

Collier and Monroe Counties in south 

Florida, which is the EEZ south of a line 

extending due west from the boundary 

of Lee and Collier Counties on the 

Florida west coast, and south of a line 

extending due east from the boundary of 

Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties on 

the Florida east coast (50 CFR 

622.369(a)(1)(iii)). 

The commercial ACL for Gulf king 

mackerel is divided into separate ACLs 

for hook-and-line and run-around 

gillnet gear. The use of run-around 

gillnets for king mackerel is restricted to 

the Gulf southern zone. The commercial 

gillnet quota (equivalent to the 

commercial gillnet ACL) for Gulf king 

mackerel is 575,400 lb (260,997 kg) 

during the fishing year from July 1, 

2020, through June 30, 2021 (50 CFR 

622.384(b)(1)(iii)(B)). 

Regulations at 50 CFR 622.388(a)(1) 

require NMFS to close any component 

of the king mackerel commercial sector 

when its applicable quota has been 

reached, or is projected to be reached, 

by filing a notification to that effect with 

the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS 

has determined that for the 2020–2021 

fishing year, the commercial quota for 

Gulf king mackerel on vessels using runaround gillnet gear in the southern zone 

has been reached. Accordingly, 

commercial fishing using such gear in 

the southern zone is closed at 12 p.m. 

local time on January 28, 2021, until 6 

a.m. local time on January 18, 2022, the 

beginning of the next fishing season, 

i.e., the day after the 2022 Martin Luther 

King, Jr. Federal holiday. Vessel 

operators that have been issued a 

Federal commercial permit to harvest 

Gulf king mackerel using run-around 

gillnet gear in the southern zone must 

have landed ashore and bartered, 

traded, or sold such king mackerel prior 

to 12 p.m. local time on January 28, 

2021. 

Persons aboard a vessel using hookand-line gear in the southern zone for 

which a Federal commercial permit for 

Gulf king mackerel has been issued, 

except persons aboard such a vessel also 

issued a Federal commercial permit to 

harvest Gulf king mackerel using runaround gillnet gear, may fish for or 

retain Gulf king mackerel unless the 

southern zone commercial quota for 

hook-and-line gear has been met and the 

hook-and-line component of the 

commercial sector has been closed. In 

addition, as long as the recreational 

sector for Gulf king mackerel is open (50 

CFR 622.384(e)(1)), a person aboard a 

vessel that has a valid Federal 

commercial gillnet permit for king 

mackerel may continue to retain king 

mackerel under the recreational bag and 

possession limits set forth in 50 CFR 

622.382(a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2). 

During the commercial closure, Gulf 

king mackerel harvested using runaround gillnet gear in the southern zone 

may not be purchased or sold. This 

prohibition does not apply to Gulf king 

mackerel harvested using run-around 

gillnet gear in the southern zone that 

were harvested, landed ashore, and sold 

prior to the closure and were held in 

cold storage by a dealer or processor (50 

CFR 622.384(e)(2)). 

Classification 

NMFS issues this action pursuant to 

section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 

622.388(a)(1), 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 is 

unnecessary and contrary to the public 

interest. Such procedures are 

unnecessary because the regulations 

associated with the commercial quota 

and associated AM for Gulf king 

mackerel have already been subject to 

notice and public comment, and all that 

remains is to notify the public of the 

closure. Prior notice and opportunity for 

public comment on this action is 

contrary to the public interest because 

of the need to immediately implement 

the closure to protect the Gulf king 

mackerel resource. The capacity of the 

fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of 

the commercial quota, and any delay in 

the closure could result in the 

commercial quota being exceeded. Prior 

notice and opportunity for public 

comment would require time and would 

potentially result in a harvest that 

exceeds the commercial quota. 

For the aforementioned reasons, there 

is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) 

to waive the 30-day delay in 

effectiveness of this action. 

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. 2021–02134 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. 200221–0062; RTID 0648– 

XA780] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 

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 vessels using 

pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area 

of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action 


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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. 


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