[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 79783-79784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22518]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 240304-0068; RTID 0648-XE302]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Several 
Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management 
Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

[[Page 79784]]


ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the 
initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea (BS) ``other 
rockfish'', BS Pacific ocean perch, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
(BSAI) Kamchatka flounder, and BSAI skates. This action is necessary to 
allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote 
the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI 
management area.

DATES: Effective September 30, 2024, through 2400 hours, Alaska local 
time, December 31, 2024. Comments must be received at the following 
address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
docket number NOAA-NMFS-2023-0124, 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-2023-0124 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: Steve Whitney, 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 BSAI 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 parts 600 and 679.
    The 2024 ITAC of BS ``other rockfish was established as 748 metric 
tons (mt), the 2024 ITAC of BS Pacific ocean perch was established as 
9,891 metric tons mt, the 2024 ITAC of BSAI Kamchatka flounder was 
established as 6,373 mt, and the 2023 ITAC of BSAI skates was 
established as 25,941 mt, by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications for groundfish of the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11, 
2024). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(3) the Regional 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has reviewed the most current 
available data and finds that the ITACs for BS ``other rockfish,'' BS 
Pacific ocean perch, BSAI Kamchatka flounder, and BSAI skates need to 
be supplemented from the non-specified reserve to promote efficiency in 
the utilization of fishery resources in the BSAI and allow fishing 
operations to continue.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions 
from the non-specified reserve of groundfish to ITACs in the BSAI 
management area as follows: 132 mt to BS ``other rockfish,'' 1,745 mt 
to BS Pacific ocean perch, 1,125 mt to BSAI Kamchatka flounder, and 
4,578 mt to BSAI skates. These apportionments are consistent with Sec.  
679.20(b)(1)(i) and do not result in overfishing of any target species 
because the revised ITACs and total allowable catches (TACs) are equal 
to or less than the specifications of the acceptable biological catch 
in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024).
    The harvest specification for the 2024 ITACs and TACs included in 
the harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as 
follows 880 mt for BS ``other rockfish,'' 11,636 mt for BS Pacific 
ocean perch, 7,498 mt for BSAI Kamchatka flounder, and 30,519 mt for 
BSAI skates.

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 apportionment of the non-
specified reserves of groundfish to BS ``other rockfish,'' BS Pacific 
ocean perch, BSAI Kamchatka flounder, and BSAI skates NMFS was unable 
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as of September 13, 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.
    Under Sec.  679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to 
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES section) until 
October 15, 2024.

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

    Dated: September 26, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-22518 Filed 9-30-24; 8:45 am]
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