4580 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 230224–0053; RTID 0648– 

XD678] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 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 the Pacific cod sideboard 

limit by non-exempt American Fisheries 

Act (AFA) catcher vessels in the 

Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 

Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary 

to prevent exceeding the annual 2024 

Pacific cod sideboard limit established 

for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in 

the Western Regulatory Area of the 

GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 2024, 

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

2024. 

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. 

Regulations governing sideboard 

protections for GOA groundfish 

fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 

part 680. 

The annual 2024 Pacific cod 

sideboard limit established for nonexempt AFA catcher vessels in the 

Western Regulatory Area is 640 metric 

tons (mt), as established by the final 

2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the GOA (88 FR 13238, 

March 2, 2023). 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the annual 2024 Pacific 

cod sideboard limit established for nonexempt AFA catcher vessels in the 

Western Regulatory Area will soon be 

reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 0 mt and is setting 

aside the remaining 640 mt as bycatch 

to support other anticipated groundfish 

fisheries. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 

Administrator finds that this sideboard 

directed fishing allowance has been 

reached. Consequently, NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for the 

annual 2024 Pacific cod sideboard limit 

for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels 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 directed fishing 

closure of the annual 2024 Pacific cod 

sideboard limit for the non-exempt AFA 

catcher vessels in the Western 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. NMFS was 

unable to publish a notification 

providing time for public comment 

because the most recent, relevant data 

only became available as of January 16, 

2024. 

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: January 18, 2024. 

Everett Wayne Baxter, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–01344 Filed 1–19–24; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 230224–0053; RTID 0648– 

XD676] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 610 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 the A season pollock 

sideboard limit by non-exempt 

American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher 

vessels in Statistical Area 610 of the 

Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 

necessary to prevent exceeding the 2024 

A season allowance of the pollock 

sideboard limit established for nonexempt AFA catcher vessels in 

Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 2024, 

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

2024. 

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 (Magnuson-Stevens 

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. Regulations 

governing sideboard protections for 

GOA groundfish fisheries appear at 

subpart B of 50 CFR part 680. 

The 2024 A season pollock sideboard 

limit established for non-exempt AFA 

catcher vessels in Statistical Area 610 is 

1,102 metric tons (mt), as established by 

the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the GOA 

(88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023). 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the 2024 A season 

pollock sideboard limit established for 

non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in 

Statistical Area 610 will soon be 

reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 4581 

fishing allowance of 0 mt and is setting 

aside the remaining 1,102 mt as bycatch 

to support other anticipated groundfish 

fisheries. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 

Administrator finds that this sideboard 

directed fishing allowance has been 

reached. Consequently, NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for the 2024 

A season pollock sideboard limit for 

non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in 

Statistical Area 610 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 directed fishing 

closure of the 2024 A season pollock 

sideboard limit for the non-exempt AFA 

catcher vessels in Statistical Area 610 of 

the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish 

a notification providing time for public 

comment because the most recent, 

relevant data only became available as 

of January 16, 2024. 

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: January 19, 2024. 

Everett Wayne Baxter, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–01338 Filed 1–19–24; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1