105478 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

§ 217.231 Effective dates. 

Regulations under this subpart are 

effective from August 4, 2025, through 

August 3, 2030. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30823 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

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. 

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or superseded through publication of a 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 § 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 § 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 § 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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 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] 

Area and sector 2025 

Allocations 

2025 A season 1 2025 B 

season 1

A season 

DFA 

SCA harvest 

limit 2 B season 

DFA 

BS subarea TAC 1 .................................................................................................. 1,375,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ............................................................................................................... 137,500 61,875 38,500 75,625 

ICA1 ....................................................................................................................... 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 ICA8 ............................................................................................ 250 n/a n/a n/a 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 1Pursuant to § 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 (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to § 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 § 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 § 679.22(a)(7)(vii). 3Pursuant to § 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. 4Pursuant to § 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. 5Pursuant to § 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. 6Pursuant to § 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. 7Pursuant to § 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. 8Pursuant to § 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 § 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] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2025 Allocation by area 

Eastern AI 

District/BS 

Central AI 

District 5

Western AI 

District 

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 


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105480 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

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—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2025 Allocation by area 

Eastern AI 

District/BS 

Central AI 

District 5

Western AI 

District 

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. 1Section 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 § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). 2Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 

3The 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. 4Section 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. 5Section 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 

§ 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. 6Sections 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 § 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] 

Sector Percent 

2025 share of 

gear sector 

total 

2025 share of 

sector total 

2025 seasonal allowances 

Season Amount 

Total BS TAC ................................................................................................... n/a 133,602 n/a n/a ....................................... n/a 

BS CDQ ........................................................................................................... n/a 14,295 n/a See § 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 § 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 ICA2 ................................................................................... 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 meters) LOA ........................... 0.2 n/a 252 n/a ....................................... n/a 

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 or pot gear ......................... 2 n/a 2,525 n/a ....................................... n/a 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 105481 

TABLE 10—FINAL 2025 SECTOR ALLOCATIONS AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC— 

Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector Percent 

2025 share of 

gear sector 

total 

2025 share of 

sector total 

2025 seasonal allowances 

Season Amount 

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. 1The 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 (§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). 2The 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. 3The 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 

(§ 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 

§ 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] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 240227–0061; RTID 0648– 

XE563] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of 

Pacific Cod 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; reallocation. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the 

projected unused amount of Pacific cod 

from catcher vessels using trawl gear to 

catcher vessels greater than or equal to 

50 feet (ft) (15.2 meters (m)) length 

overall using hook-and-line gear and to 

catcher/processors using trawl gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf 

of Alaska (GOA). This action is 

necessary to allow the 2024 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to 

be harvested. 

DATES: Effective December 20, 2024, 

through 2400 hours, Alaska local time 

(A.l.t.), December 31, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Abby Jahn, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

GOA 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 

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 Pacific cod TAC specified 

for catcher vessels using trawl gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 

is 6,293 metric tons (mt), as established 

by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the GOA 

(89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024). 

The 2024 Pacific cod TAC specified 

for catcher vessels greater than or equal 

to 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using 

hook-and-line gear is 1,015 mt as 

established by the final 2024 and 2025 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the GOA (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024). 

The 2024 Pacific cod TAC specified 

for catcher/processors using trawl gear 

is 635 mt as established by the final 

2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the GOA (89 FR 15484, 

March 4, 2024). The final 2024 and 2025 

harvest specifications also establishes a 

directed fishing closure for catcher/ 

processors using trawl gear. 

The Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS has determined that catcher 

vessels using trawl gear will not be able 

to harvest 230 mt of the 2024 Pacific cod 

TAC allocated to those vessels under 

§ 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4). 

Therefore, in accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), NMFS apportions 

100 mt of Pacific cod from catcher 

vessels using trawl gear to the annual 

amount specified for catcher vessels 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with RULES