88836 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

■ 2. Revise § 665.169 to read as follows: 

§ 665.169 Gold coral harvest moratorium. 

Fishing for, taking, or retaining any 

gold coral in any precious coral permit 

area is prohibited through June 30, 

2028. 

■ 3. Amend § 665.269 by revising Note 

2 to § 665.269 to read as follows: 

§ 665.269 Annual Catch Limits (ACL). 

* * * * * 

Note 2 to § 665.269: A moratorium on gold 

coral harvesting is in effect through June 30, 

2028. 

■ 4. Revise § 665.270 to read as follows: 

§ 665.270 Gold coral harvest moratorium. 

Fishing for, taking, or retaining any 

gold coral in any precious coral permit 

area is prohibited through June 30, 

2028. 

■ 5. Revise § 665.469 to read as follows: 

§ 665.469 Gold coral harvest moratorium. 

Fishing for, taking, or retaining any 

gold coral in any precious coral permit 

area is prohibited through June 30, 

2028. 

■ 6. Revise § 665.669 to read as follows: 

§ 665.669 Gold coral harvest moratorium. 

Fishing for, taking, or retaining any 

gold coral in any precious coral permit 

area is prohibited through June 30, 

2028. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28221 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. 230306–0065] 

RTID 0648–XD597 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment 

to the 2024 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 2024 

total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for 

the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

(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 scientific information 

available. 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, 2024, until 

the effective date of the final 2024 and 

2025 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 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 e-Rulemaking 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 

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 parts 600 and 679. 

The final 2023 and 2024 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) set 

the 2024 Aleutian Islands (AI) pollock 

TAC at 19,000 metric tons (mt), the 2024 

Bering Sea (BS) pollock TAC at 

1,302,000 mt, the 2024 BSAI Atka 

mackerel TAC at 66,855 mt, the 2024 BS 

Pacific cod TAC at 123,295 mt, and the 

2024 AI Pacific cod TAC at 8,425 mt. In 

December 2023, the Council 

recommended a 2024 BS pollock TAC of 

1,300,000 mt, which is less than the 

1,302,000 mt TAC established by the 

final 2023 and 2024 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI. The Council also recommended a 

2024 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC of 72,987 

mt, which is more than the 66,855 mt 

TAC established by the final 2023 and 

2024 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the BSAI. Furthermore, 

the Council recommended a 2024 BS 

Pacific cod TAC of 147,753 mt, and an 

AI Pacific cod TAC of 8,080 mt, which 

is more than the BS Pacific cod TAC of 

123,295 mt, and less than the AI Pacific 

cod TAC of 8,425 mt established by the 

final 2023 and 2024 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI. The Council’s recommended 2024 

TACs, and the area and seasonal 

apportionments, are based on the Stock 

Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 

report (SAFE), dated November 2023, 

which NMFS has determined is the best 

scientific information available 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). 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 88837 

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 

2023 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 2024 BS pollock TAC to 1,300,000 

mt, the 2024 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC 

to 72,987 mt, the 2024 BS Pacific cod 

TAC to 147,753 mt, and the 2024 AI 

Pacific cod TAC to 8,080 mt. Therefore, 

table 2 of the final 2023 and 2024 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) 

is revised consistent with this 

adjustment. 

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

table 5 of the final 2023 and 2024 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) 

is revised for the 2024 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 2024 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 2024 

Allocations 

2024 A season 1

A season 

DFA 

SCA harvest 

limit 2

B season 

DFA 

Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 .............................................................................. 1,300,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 130,000 58,500 36,400 71,500 

ICA1 ................................................................................................................. 50,000 n/a n/a n/a 

Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA ..................................................................... 1,120,000 504,000 313,600 616,000 

AFA Inshore ..................................................................................................... 560,000 252,000 156,800 308,000 

AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ............................................................................... 448,000 201,600 125,440 246,400 

Catch by CPs ........................................................................................... 409,920 184,464 n/a 225,456 

Catch by CVs 3 ......................................................................................... 38,080 17,136 n/a 20,944 

Unlisted CP Limit 4 .................................................................................... 2,240 1,008 n/a 1,232 

AFA Motherships ............................................................................................. 112,000 50,400 31,360 61,600 

Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................................................................ 196,000 n/a n/a n/a 

Excessive Processing Limit 6 ........................................................................... 336,000 n/a n/a n/a 

Aleutian Islands subarea ABC ......................................................................... 43,092 n/a n/a n/a 

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

CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 1,900 1,841 n/a 59 

ICA ................................................................................................................... 2,500 1,250 n/a 1,250 

Aleut Corporation ............................................................................................. 14,600 14,146 n/a 454 

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

541 ............................................................................................................ 12,928 n/a n/a n/a 

542 ............................................................................................................ 6,464 n/a n/a n/a 

543 ............................................................................................................ 2,155 n/a n/a n/a 

Bogoslof District ICA8 ...................................................................................... 300 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 Initial Catch Allowance (ICA) (50,000 mt, 4.27 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 DFAs are allocated to the A season (January 20–June 

10) and 55 percent of the DFAs are allocated to the B season (June 10–November 1). When the AI Pollock Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) 

equals or exceeds 19,000 mt, the annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the Aleutian 

Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,500 mt), is allocated to the Aleut 

Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is allocated no more than 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 

Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA) before noon, April 1. 3Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the allocation 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 American Fisheries Act (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 2023 and 2024 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) is 

revised for the 2024 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. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
88838 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 7—FINAL 2024 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

2024 allocation by area 

Eastern 

Aleutian 

District/ 

Bering Sea 

Central 

Aleutian District 5

Western 

Aleutian District 

TAC ........................................................................... n/a ...................... 32,260 16,754 23,973 

CDQ reserve ............................................................. Total ................... 3,452 1,793 2,565 

A ......................... 1,726 896 1,283 

Critical Habitat .... n/a 538 770 

B ......................... 1,726 896 1,283 

Critical Habitat .... n/a 538 770 

Non-CDQ TAC .......................................................... n/a ...................... 28,808 14,961 21,408 

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

Jig 6 ............................................................................ Total ................... 140 

BSAI trawl limited access ......................................... Total ................... 2,787 1,489 

A ......................... 1,393 744 

Critical Habitat .... n/a 447 

B ......................... 1,393 744 

Critical Habitat .... n/a 447 

Amendment 80 sector ............................................... Total ................... 25,081 13,398 21,388 

A ......................... 12,541 6,699 10,694 

Critical Habitat .... n/a 4,019 6,416 

B ......................... 12,541 6,699 10,694 

Critical Habitat .... n/a 4,019 6,416 

1Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the Initial Total Allowable Catch (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)). 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 protection areas; 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) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands 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 2024 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 2023 and 2024 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (87 FR 76435, March 10, 2023) is 

revised for the 2024 gear shares and 

seasonal allowances of the BSAI Pacific 

cod TAC consistent with this 

adjustment. 

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

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector Percent 2024 2024 

2024 

Season Amount 

Total Bering Sea TAC ......................................................................... n/a 147,753 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

Bering Sea CDQ ................................................................................. n/a 15,810 n/a See § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ......... n/a 

Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC .................................................................. n/a 131,943 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

Total Aleutian Islands TAC ................................................................. n/a 8,080 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

Aleutian Islands CDQ .......................................................................... n/a 865 n/a See § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ......... n/a 

Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC .......................................................... n/a 7,215 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

Western Aleutians Islands Limit .......................................................... n/a 2,233 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC1 ................................................................. 100.0 139,159 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

Total hook-and-line/pot gear ............................................................... 60.8 84,609 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot ICA2 ....................................................................... n/a n/a 500 n/a .......................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot sub-total ................................................................. n/a 84,109 n/a n/a .......................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line catcher/processors ....................................................... 48.7 n/a 67,370 n/a .......................................... n/a 

A-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jan 1–Jun 10 ......................... 34,359 

B-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jun 10–Dec 31 ...................... 33,011 

Hook-and-line catcher vessels ≥ 60 ft Length Overall (LOA) ............. 0.2 n/a 277 n/a .......................................... n/a 

A-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jan 1–Jun 10 ......................... 141 

B-season ............................................................................................. .............. .............. .............. Jun 10–Dec 31 ...................... 136 

Pot catcher/processors ........................................................................ 1.5 n/a 2,075 n/a .......................................... n/a 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
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 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES