`[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 105478-105481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30714]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 240304-0068; RTID 0648-XE549]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inseason 
Adjustment to the 2025 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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2025 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 BSAI (FMP).

DATES: Effective 0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 
2025, until the effective date of the final 2025 and 2026 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superseded through publication of a notification in the Federal 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 13, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2023-0124, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit https://www.regulations.gov and type 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, Attn: Records Office. Mail comments to P.O. Box 
21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
     Fax: (907) 586-7465; Attn: Gretchen Harrington.
    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 FMP prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (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 both 50 CFR part 600 and 
50 CFR part 679.
    The final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in 
the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 11, 2024) set the 2025 Bering Sea (BS) 
pollock TAC at 1,325,000 metric tons (mt), the 2025 BSAI Atka mackerel 
TAC at 66,165 mt, the 2025 BS Pacific cod TAC at 132,726 mt, and the 
2024 Aleutian Islands (AI) Pacific cod TAC at 8,080 mt. In December 
2024, the Council recommended a 2025 BS pollock TAC of 1,375,000 mt, 
which is more than the 1,325,000 mt TAC established by the final 2024 
and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. The Council 
also recommended a 2025 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC of 82,000 mt, which is 
more than the 66,165 mt TAC established by the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. Furthermore, the 
Council recommended a 2025 BS Pacific cod TAC of 133,602 mt, and an AI 
Pacific cod TAC of 8,694 mt, which is more than the BS Pacific cod TAC 
of 132,726 mt, and more than the AI Pacific cod TAC of 8,080 mt 
established by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the BSAI. The Council's recommended 2025 TACs, and the 
area and seasonal apportionments, are based on the Stock Assessment and 
Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE), dated November 2024, 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. 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).
    In accordance with Sec.  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 2024 SAFE 
report for these fisheries, the current BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, 
and Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly specified. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator is adjusting the 2025 BS 
pollock TAC to 1,375,000 mt, the 2025 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC to 82,000 
mt, the 2025 BS Pacific cod TAC to 133,602 mt, and the 2025 AI Pacific 
cod TAC to 8,694 mt. Therefore, table 2 of the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 
11, 2024) is revised consistent with this adjustment.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i) and (iii), table 5 of the final 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 
17287, March 11, 2024) is revised for the 2025 BS and AI allocations of 
pollock TAC to the directed pollock fisheries, the Community 
Development Quota (CDQ) directed fishing allowances (DFA), and the 
incidental catch allowance (ICA) consistent with this adjustment.

[[Page 105479]]



    Table 5--Final 2025 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
                                             Fishing Allowances \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             2025 A season \1\          2025 B
                                                                       -----------------------------  season \1\
                   Area and sector                           2025                                   ------------
                                                         Allocations      A season     SCA harvest     B season
                                                                            DFA         limit \2\        DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS subarea TAC \1\...................................        1,375,000          n/a             n/a          n/a
CDQ DFA..............................................          137,500       61,875          38,500       75,625
ICA \1\..............................................           46,000          n/a             n/a          n/a
Total BS non-CDQ DFA.................................        1,191,500      536,175         333,620      655,325
AFA Inshore..........................................          595,750      268,088         166,810      327,663
AFA Catcher/Processors (CPs) \3\.....................          476,600      214,470         133,448      262,130
Catch by CPs.........................................          436,089      196,240             n/a      239,849
Catch by Catcher Vessels (CVs) \3\...................           40,511       18,230             n/a       22,281
Unlisted CP Limit \4\................................            2,383        1,072             n/a        1,311
AFA Motherships......................................          119,150       53,618          33,362       65,533
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.......................          208,513          n/a             n/a          n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.......................          357,450          n/a             n/a          n/a
AI subarea ABC.......................................           46,051          n/a             n/a          n/a
AI subarea TAC \1\...................................           19,000          n/a             n/a          n/a
CDQ DFA..............................................            1,900        1,900             n/a  ...........
ICA..................................................            3,000        1,500             n/a        1,500
Aleut Corporation....................................           14,100       14,100             n/a  ...........
Area harvest limit \7\...............................              n/a          n/a             n/a          n/a
    541..............................................           13,815          n/a             n/a          n/a
    542..............................................            6,908          n/a             n/a          n/a
    543..............................................            2,303          n/a             n/a          n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\............................              250          n/a             n/a          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
  percent) and the ICA (46,000 mt), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/
  processor sector (CP)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 45 percent of the DFA
  and CDQ DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are
  allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt, the
  annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt (Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2),
  the AI subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (3,000
  mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is
  allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\2\ In the BS subarea, pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual
  DFA may be taken from the SCA before noon, April 1. The SCA is defined at Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(vii).
\3\ Pursuant to Sec.   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 contract for the year.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than
  0.5 percent of the CP sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec.   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.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec.   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.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec.   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 AI pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec.   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.

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8), table 8 of the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 
11, 2024) is revised for the 2025 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.

 Table 8--Final 2025 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]
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                                                                              2025 Allocation by area
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
              Sector \1\                   Season \2\ \3\ \4\       Eastern AI      Central AI      Western AI
                                                                    District/BS    District \5\      District
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TAC...................................  n/a.....................          39,000          24,443          18,557
CDQ reserve...........................  Total...................           4,173           2,615           1,986
                                        A.......................           2,087           1,308             993
                                        Critical Habitat........             n/a             785             596
                                        B.......................           2,087           1,308             993
                                        Critical Habitat........             n/a             785             596

[[Page 105480]]

 
Non-CDQ TAC...........................  n/a.....................          34,827          21,828          16,571
ICA...................................  Total...................             800             100              20
Jig \6\...............................  Total...................             170  ..............  ..............
BSAI trawl limited access.............  Total...................           3,386           2,173  ..............
                                        A.......................           1,693           1,086  ..............
                                        Critical Habitat........             n/a             652  ..............
                                        B.......................           1,693           1,086  ..............
                                        Critical Habitat........             n/a             652  ..............
Amendment 80 sector...................  Total...................          30,471          19,555          16,551
                                        A.......................          15,236           9,777           8,276
                                        Critical Habitat........             n/a           5,866           4,965
                                        B.......................          15,236           9,777           8,276
                                        Critical Habitat........             n/a           5,866           4,965
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Section 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 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 Sec.   679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.
  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
  fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel for the CDQ reserve, BSAI trawl limited access sector, and
  Amendment 80 sector are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 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.
\5\ Section 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 harvest limits between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec.   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.
\6\ Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern AI District and the BS
  subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of
  this allocation for 2025 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(7), table 10 of the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (89 FR 17287, March 
11, 2024) is revised for the 2025 gear shares and seasonal allowances 
of the BSAI Pacific cod TAC, CDQ DFAs, and Pacific cod trawl 
cooperatives (PCTC) DFAs consistent with this adjustment.

                               Table 10--Final 2025 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             2025 share of                                     2025 seasonal allowances
                     Sector                        Percent    gear sector     2025 share of  -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 total         sector total                        Season                        Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total BS TAC....................................       n/a          133,602              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
BS CDQ..........................................       n/a           14,295              n/a  See Sec.   679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)...................       n/a
BS non-CDQ TAC..................................       n/a          119,307              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
Total AI TAC....................................       n/a            8,694              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
AI CDQ..........................................       n/a              930              n/a  See Sec.   679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)...................       n/a
AI non-CDQ TAC..................................       n/a            7,764              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
Western AI Limit................................       n/a            3,173              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\......................       100          127,070              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear....................      60.8           77,259              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\.......................       n/a              n/a              500  n/a.............................................       n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.....................       n/a           76,759              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processors................      48.7              n/a           61,483  n/a.............................................       n/a
    A-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan-1-Jun 10....................................    31,356
    B-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jun 10-Dec 31...................................    30,127
Hook-and-line catcher vessels >=60 ft (18.288          0.2              n/a              252  n/a.............................................       n/a
 meters) LOA.
    A-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan 1-Jun 10....................................       129
    B-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jun 10-Dec 31...................................       124
Pot catcher/processors..........................       1.5              n/a            1,894  n/a.............................................       n/a
    A-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan 1-Jun 10....................................       966
    B-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Sept 1-Dec 31...................................       928
Pot catcher vessels >=60 ft LOA.................       8.4              n/a           10,605  n/a.............................................       n/a
    A-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan 1-Jun 10....................................     5,408
    B-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Sept 1-Dec 31...................................     5,196
Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA using hook-and-line           2              n/a            2,525  n/a.............................................       n/a
 or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessels \3\.......................      22.1           28,083              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
    A-Season ICA................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan 20-Apr 1....................................     1,500
    A-season PCTC...............................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan 20-Apr 1....................................    19,281
    B-season ICA................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Apr 1-Jun 10....................................       700
    B-season PCTC...............................  ........  ...............  ...............  Apr 1-Jun 10....................................     2,389

[[Page 105481]]

 
    C-season trawl catcher vessels..............  ........  ...............  ...............  Jun 10-Nov 1....................................     4,212
AFA trawl catcher/processors....................       2.3            2,923              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
    A-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan 20-Apr 1....................................     2,192
    B-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Apr 1-Jun 10....................................       731
    C-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jun 10-Nov 1....................................  ........
Amendment 80....................................      13.4           17,027              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
    A-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan 20-Apr 1....................................    12,771
    B-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Apr 1-Jun 10....................................     4,257
    C-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jun 10-Dec 31...................................  ........
Jig.............................................       1.4            1,779              n/a  n/a.............................................       n/a
    A-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Jan 1-Apr 30....................................     1,067
    B-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Apr 30-Aug 31...................................       356
    C-season....................................  ........  ...............  ...............  Aug 31-Dec 31...................................       356
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ The 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 (Sec.   679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors is 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.
\3\ The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation is allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program after subtraction of the A and B season
  ICAs (Sec.   679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator approves for 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 PCTC Program Pacific cod.

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 9, 
2024.
    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 Sec.  679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit 
written comments on this action to the above address until January 13, 
2025.

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

    Dated: December 19, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-30714 Filed 12-26-24; 8:45 am]
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