Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 88839 

TABLE 9—FINAL 2024 SECTOR ALLOCATIONS AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector Percent 2024 2024 

2024 

Season Amount 

A-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jan 1–Jun 10 ......................... 1,058 

B-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Sept 1–Dec 31 ....................... 1,017 

Pot catcher vessels ≥ 60 ft LOA ......................................................... 8.4 n/a 11,620 n/a .......................................... n/a 

A-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jan 1–Jun 10 ......................... 5,926 

B-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Sept–1–Dec 31 ...................... 5,694 

Catcher vessels < 60 ft LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear ........... 2.0 n/a 2,767 n/a .......................................... n/a 

Trawl catcher vessels 3 ....................................................................... 22.1 30,754 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

A-Season ICA ...................................................................................... .............. .............. .............. Jan 20–Apr 1 ......................... 1,500 

A-season PCTC .................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jan 20-Apr 1 .......................... 21,258 

B-season ICA ...................................................................................... .............. .............. .............. Apr 1–Jun 10 ......................... 700 

B-season PCTC .................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Apr 1–Jun 10 ......................... 2,683 

C-season trawl catcher vessels .......................................................... .............. .............. .............. Jun 10–Nov 1 ........................ 4,613 

AFA trawl catcher/processors ............................................................. 2.3 3,201 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

A-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jan 20–Apr 1 ......................... 2,400 

B-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Apr 1–Jun 10 ......................... 800 

C-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jun 10–Nov 1 ........................ ..............

Amendment 80 .................................................................................... 13.4 18,647 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

A-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jan 20–Apr 1 ......................... 13,985 

B-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Apr 1–Jun 10 ......................... 4,662 

C-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jun 10–Dec 31 ...................... ..............

Jig ........................................................................................................ 1.4 1,948 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

A-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jan 1–Apr 30 ......................... 1,169 

B-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Apr 30–Aug 31 ....................... 390 

C-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Aug 31–Dec 31 ...................... 390 

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 

subtraction of the reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the BS or AI is or will be reached, then directed fishing will 

be prohibited for non-CDQ Pacific cod in that subarea, 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 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries. 3The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation will be allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program after subtraction of the A 

and B season ICAs (§ 679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator approves the A and B seasons ICAs of 1,500 mt and 700 mt, respectively, to 

account for projected incidental catch of Pacific cod by trawl catcher vessels engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than Pacific Cod 

Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program Pacific cod. 

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 14, 2023. 

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 10, 2024. 

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

Dated: December 19, 2023. 

Everett Wayne Baxter, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28323 Filed 12–22–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 230224–0053; RTID 0648– 

XD295] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher/Processors Using Hook-andLine Gear in the Western 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 catcher/ 

processors using hook-and-line (HAL) 

gear in the Western Regulatory Area of 

the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 

necessary to prevent exceeding the 2023 

Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) 

apportioned to catcher/processors using 


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88840 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

HAL gear in the Western Regulatory 

Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), December 21, 2023, 

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

2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Adam Zaleski, 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 2023 Pacific cod TAC 

apportioned to catcher/processors using 

HAL gear in the Western Regulatory 

Area of the GOA is 1,439 metric tons 

(mt) as established by the final 2023 and 

2024 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the GOA (88 FR 13238, 

March 2, 2023) and inseason adjustment 

(88 FR 76141, November 6, 2023). 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the 2023 Pacific cod 

TAC apportioned to catcher/processors 

using HAL gear in the Western 

Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon 

be reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 1,430 mt and is 

setting aside the remaining 9 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 

catcher/processors using HAL gear in 

the Western 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 catcher/processors using HAL 

gear in the Western 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 December 19, 2023. 

The Assistant Administrator for 

Fisheries, NOAA 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. 

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

Dated: December 20, 2023. 

Everett Wayne Baxter, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28416 Filed 12–21–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 230224–0053; RTID 0648– 

XD598] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment 

to the 2024 Gulf of Alaska Pollock 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 2024 

total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for 

the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) pollock and 

Pacific cod fisheries. This action is 

necessary because NMFS has 

determined these TACs are incorrectly 

specified, and will ensure the GOA 

pollock and Pacific cod TACs are the 

appropriate amount based on the best 

scientific information available for 

pollock and Pacific cod in the GOA. 

This action is consistent with the goals 

and objectives of the Fishery 

Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish 

of the Gulf of Alaska. 

DATES: Effective 0001 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2024, until 

the effective date of the final 2024 and 

2025 harvest specifications for GOA 

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 10, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on this document, identified by docket 

number NOAA–NMFS–2022–0094, by 

any of the following methods: 

Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and enter 

NOAA–NMFS–2022–0094 in the Search 

box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

Mail: Submit written comments to 

Gretchen Harrington, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS. Mail 

comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 

AK 99802–1668. 

Instructions: Comments sent by any 

other method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the end of 

the comment period, may not be 

considered by NMFS. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted for public 

viewing on https://www.regulations.gov 

without change. All personal identifying 

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

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: 

Adam Zaleski, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

GOA exclusive economic zone 

according to the FMP for Groundfish of 

the Gulf of Alaska prepared by the 

North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council (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 final 2023 and 2024 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the GOA 

(88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023) set the 

2024 pollock TAC at 168,416 metric 

tons (mt) in the GOA. In December 

2023, the Council recommended a 2024 

pollock TAC of 195,720 mt for the GOA, 

which is greater than the 168,416 mt 

established by the final 2023 and 2024 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the GOA. The Council’s recommended 

2024 TAC, and the area and seasonal 


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