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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 105481-105482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30977]

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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.

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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 Sec.  
679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)(4).
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  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

[[Page 105482]]

greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using hook-
and-line gear and 130 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using 
trawl gear to the annual amount specified for catcher/processors using 
trawl gear.
    The harvest specifications for 2024 Pacific cod included in the 
final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024) is 
revised as follows: 6,063 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear, 1,115 
mt to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length 
overall using hook-and-line gear, and 765 mt to catcher/processors 
using trawl gear.

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. 
This requirement is 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 
originally specified apportionment of the Pacific cod TAC. NMFS was 
unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because 
the most recent, relevant data only became available as of December 19, 
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: December 20, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-30977 Filed 12-20-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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