Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 13, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 10007 

gsarpolicy@gsa.gov, for clarification of 

content. For information pertaining to 

status or publication schedules, contact 

the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 

202–501–4755 or gsaregsec@gsa.gov. 

Please cite GSAR Case 2022–G514. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GSA is 

making a correction to a paragraph in 

the revision of 48 CFR 538.273 

published in a final rule on January 12, 

2024. The words ‘‘the Handicapped.’’ 

erroneously appeared in amendatory 

instruction number 4, in paragraph 

(b)(1) of the section. Also, the 

amendatory text for paragraph (d)(37) 

was erroneously omitted. 

Correction 

■ In FR Doc. 2024–00519, starting on 

page 2172 in the issue of January 12, 

2024, on page 2173, in the second 

column, and page 2174, in the second 

column, section 552.238–73 is corrected 

by revising paragraph (b)(1) and adding 

paragraph (d)(37) to read as follows: 

538.273 [Corrected] 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(1) 552.238–73, Identification of 

Electronic Office Equipment Providing 

Accessibility for Individuals with 

Disabilities. Use only in FSS 

solicitations for electronic office 

equipment. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(37) 552.238–117, Price Adjustment— 

Failure to Provide Accurate Information. 

Use only in FSS solicitations and 

contracts under the MAS program. This 

clause is used when the contract 

contains the basic clause 552.238–80, 

Industrial Funding Fee and Sales 

Reporting. 

* * * * * 

Jeffrey A. Koses, 

Senior Procurement Executive, Office of 

Acquisition Policy, Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02808 Filed 2–12–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6820–61–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 635 

[Docket No. 220919–0193; RTID 0648– 

XD679] 

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; 

Closure of the Angling Category 

Southern Area Trophy Fishery for 2024 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS closes the Angling 

category southern area fishery for large 

medium and giant (‘‘trophy’’ (i.e., 

measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters 

(cm)) curved fork length or greater)) 

Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). The 

southern area trophy fishery is defined 

as south of 39°18′ N lat., and outside of 

the Gulf of Mexico. This action applies 

to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 

Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat 

permitted vessels when fishing 

recreationally. 

DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m., local time, 

February 9, 2024, through December 31, 

2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Larry Redd, Jr., larry.redd@noaa.gov, or 

Ann Williamson, ann.williamson@

noaa.gov, 301–427–8503. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BFT 

fisheries are managed under the 2006 

Consolidated HMS Fishery Management 

Plan (FMP) and its amendments, 

pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 

1801 et seq.) and consistent with the 

Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA; 

16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). HMS 

implementing regulations are at 50 CFR 

part 635. Section 635.27 divides the 

U.S. BFT quota, established by the 

International Commission for the 

Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 

and as implemented by the United 

States among the various domestic 

fishing categories, per the allocations 

established in the 2006 Consolidated 

HMS FMP and its amendments. NMFS 

is required under the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act at 16 U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)(D) to provide 

U.S. fishing vessels with a reasonable 

opportunity to harvest quotas under 

relevant international fishery 

agreements such as the ICCAT 

Convention, which is implemented 

domestically pursuant to ATCA. 

Under § 635.28(a)(1), NMFS files a 

closure notice with the Office of the 

Federal Register for publication when a 

BFT quota (or subquota) is reached or is 

projected to be reached. Retaining, 

possessing, or landing BFT under that 

quota category is prohibited on and after 

the effective date and time of a closure 

notice for that category, for the 

remainder of the fishing year, until the 

opening of the subsequent quota period 

or until such date as specified. 

The 2024 BFT fishing year, which is 

managed on a calendar-year basis and 

subject to an annual calendar-year 

quota, began January 1, 2024. The 

Angling category season opened January 

1, 2024, and continues through 

December 31, 2024. As described in 

§ 635.27(a), the current baseline U.S. 

BFT quota is 1,316.14 metric tons (mt) 

(not including the 25 mt ICCAT 

allocated to the United States to account 

for bycatch of BFT in pelagic longline 

fisheries in the Northeast Distant Gear 

Restricted Area per § 635.27(a)(3)). The 

Angling category baseline quota is 297.4 

mt, of which 9.2 mt (3.1 percent of the 

annual Angling category quota) is suballocated for the harvest of large 

medium and giant (trophy) BFT by 

vessels fishing under the Angling 

category quota, with 2.3 mt (25 percent 

of the annual large medium and giant 

BFT Angling category quota) allocated 

for each of the following areas: North of 

42° N lat. (the Gulf of Maine area); south 

of 42° N lat. and north of 39°18′ N lat. 

(the southern New England area); south 

of 39°18′ N lat., and outside of the Gulf 

of Mexico (the southern area); and the 

Gulf of Mexico region. Trophy BFT 

measure 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork 

length or greater. This closure action 

applies to the southern area. 

Angling Category Large Medium and 

Giant Southern ‘‘Trophy’’ Fishery 

Closure 

Based on landings data from the 

NMFS Automated Catch Reporting 

System and the North Carolina Tagging 

Program, as well as average catch rates 

and anticipated fishing conditions, 

NMFS projects the Angling category 

southern area trophy BFT subquota of 

2.3 has been reached and exceeded. 

Therefore, retaining, possessing, or 

landing large medium or giant (i.e., 

measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved 

fork length or greater) BFT south of 

39°18′an N lat. and outside the Gulf of 

Mexico by persons aboard HMS Angling 

and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted 

vessels (when fishing recreationally) 

must cease at 11:30 p.m. local time on 

February 9, 2024. This closure will 

remain effective through December 31, 

2024. This action applies to HMS 


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10008 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 13, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat 

permitted vessels when fishing 

recreationally for BFT, and is taken 

consistent with the regulations at 

§ 635.28(a)(1). This action is intended to 

prevent further overharvest of the 

Angling category southern area trophy 

BFT subquota. 

If needed to ensure available quotas or 

subquotas are not exceeded or to 

enhance fishing opportunities, 

subsequent Angling category 

adjustments or closures will be 

published in the Federal Register per 

§§ 635.27(a)(7) and 635.28(a)(1). 

Information regarding the Angling 

category fishery for Atlantic tunas, 

including daily retention limits for BFT 

measuring 27 inches (68.5 cm) to less 

than 73 inches (185 cm), and any further 

Angling category adjustments, is 

available at https://www.hmspermits.

noaa.gov. During a closure, fishermen 

aboard HMS Angling and HMS Charter/ 

Headboat permitted vessels when 

fishing recreationally may continue to 

catch and release (or tag and release) 

BFT of all sizes, subject to the 

requirements of the catch-and-release 

and tag-and-release programs at 

§ 635.26. All BFT that are released must 

be handled in a manner that will 

maximize survival, and without 

removing the fish from the water, 

consistent with requirements at 

§ 635.21(a)(1). For additional 

information on safe handling, see the 

‘‘Careful Catch and Release’’ brochure 

available at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/ 

outreach-and-education/careful-catchand-release-brochure/. 

Monitoring and Reporting 

NMFS will continue to monitor the 

BFT fisheries closely. Per § 635.5(c)(1), 

HMS Angling and HMS Charter/ 

Headboat permitted vessel owners are 

required to report the catch of all BFT 

retained or discarded dead, within 24 

hours of the landing(s) or end of each 

trip, by accessing https://

www.hmspermits.noaa.gov, using the 

HMS Catch Reporting app, or calling 

(888) 872–8862 (Monday through Friday 

from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.). 

Classification 

NMFS issues this action pursuant to 

section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act and regulations at 50 CFR part 635 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

The Assistant Administrator for 

NMFS (AA) finds that pursuant to 5 

U.S.C. 553(b)(B), it is impracticable and 

contrary to the public interest to provide 

prior notice of, and an opportunity for 

public comment on, this action for the 

following reasons. Specifically, the 

regulations implementing the 2006 

Consolidated HMS FMP and its 

amendments provide for inseason 

retention limit adjustments and fishery 

closures to respond to the unpredictable 

nature of BFT availability on the fishing 

grounds, the migratory nature of this 

species, and the regional variations in 

the BFT fishery. Providing for prior 

notice and opportunity to comment is 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest as this fishery is currently 

underway and, based on landings 

information, the Angling category 

southern area fishery subquota has been 

reached and exceeded. Delaying this 

action could result in further excessive 

trophy BFT landings that may result in 

future potential quota reductions for the 

Angling category, depending on the 

magnitude of a potential Angling 

category overharvest. NMFS must close 

the southern area trophy BFT fishery 

before additional landings of these sizes 

of BFT occur. Taking this action does 

not raise conservation and management 

concerns, and would support effective 

management of the BFT fishery. NMFS 

notes that the public had an opportunity 

to comment on the underlying 

rulemakings that established the U.S. 

BFT quota and the inseason adjustment 

criteria. 

For all of the above reasons, the AA 

also finds that pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 

553(d), there is good cause to waive the 

30-day delay in effectiveness. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 

et seq. 

Dated: February 7, 2024. 

Everett Wayne Baxter, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–02910 Filed 2–8–24; 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–XD651 

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 

is necessary to prevent exceeding the A 

season allowance of the 2024 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod by 

vessels using pot gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), February 9, 2024, 

through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 

2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Abby Jahn, 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. 

The A season allowance of the 2024 

Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels 

using pot gear in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA is 2,726 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 88840, December 26, 2023). 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the A season allowance 

of the 2024 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 2,716 mt 

and is setting aside the remaining 10 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 


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