[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75505-75506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20993]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 240304-0068; RTID 0648-XE270]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod 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; reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher/processor vessels to 
Amendment 80 vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area. This action is necessary to allow the 2024 total allowable catch 
(TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Effective September 11, 2024, through 2400 hours, Alaska local 
time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)

[[Page 75506]]

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 (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.
    TAC specified for AFA catcher/processor vessels in the BSAI is 
3,201 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 
11, 2024).
    The 2024 Pacific cod TAC allocated to Amendment 80 vessels in the 
BSAI is 18,647 mt as established by final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11, 
2024).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) 
has determined that AFA catcher/processor vessels will not be able to 
harvest 1,500 mt of the AFA catcher/processor vessels 2024 Pacific cod 
TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(7). 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS 
apportions 1,500 mt of Pacific cod from AFA catcher/processor vessels 
to Amendment 80 vessels.
    The harvest specifications for 2024 Pacific cod included in final 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 
17287, March 11, 2024) are revised as follows: 1,701 mt to AFA catcher/
processor vessels and 20,147 mt to Amendment 80 vessels.

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 reallocation of Pacific 
cod specified from AFA catcher/processor vessels to Amendment 80 
vessels. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public 
comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as 
of September 10, 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: September 11, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-20993 Filed 9-11-24; 4:15 pm]
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