Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska: Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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 Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 2,268 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 using hook-and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 83 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 hook-and-line gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,170 mt, as established by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024).

The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that catcher vessels using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 440 mt of the 2024 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)( 3 ).

Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(B), NMFS apportions 240 mt of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to the annual amount specified for catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear and 200 mt to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear.

The harvest specifications for 2024 Pacific cod included in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024) is revised as follows: 1,828 mt to catcher vessels using trawl gear, 283 mt to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, and 1,410 mt to catcher/processors using hook-and-line 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 October 30, 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.