[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47597-47598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18371]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 210210-0018; RTID 0648-XB337]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
Fishery by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish, other than 
pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
This action is necessary to fully use the 2021 groundfish total 
allowable catch available for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels 
directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear 
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 24, 
2021, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2021. Comments must be 
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., 
September 7, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0140, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2020-0140 in the Search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Records Office. 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 NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on 
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: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone 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. 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.
    NMFS prohibited directed fishing for groundfish, other than 
pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, effective 1200 
hours, A.l.t., March 26, 2021 (86 FR 16677, March 31, 2021) under Sec.  
679.21(i)(8)(ii).
    On August 20, 2021, NMFS published an inseason adjustment (86 FR 
46792, August 20, 2021) that reapportioned 1,350 Chinook salmon 
prohibited species catch limit to the non-Rockfish Program catcher 
vessel sector participating in the directed fishery for groundfish, 
other than pollock, in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the 
GOA that is available from August 18, 2021 until December 31, 2021 
(Sec.  679.21(h)(5)(iii)). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.25(a)(1)(i)), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully 
utilize the 2021 groundfish total allowable catch available for non-
Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, other 
than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory 
Areas of the GOA, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is 
opening directed fishing for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels 
directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using

[[Page 47598]]

trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

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 opening directed fishing for 
groundfish, other than pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels 
using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the 
GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public 
comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as 
of August 20, 2021.
    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: August 23, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18371 Filed 8-23-21; 4:15 pm]
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