Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits in the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

SUMMARY:

NMFS is reapportioning the projected unused amount, 1,350 Chinook salmon prohibited species catch limit, from the vessels participating in directed fishing for pollock in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) to non-Rockfish Program catcher vessel sector participating in directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA.

DATES:

Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 18, 2021, until 2400 hours A.l.t., December 31, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the fishery management plan appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.

The 2021 Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for the non-Rockfish Program catcher vessel sector directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 3,060 Chinook salmon (§ 679.21(h)(4)(i)(C)).

The 2021 Chinook salmon PSC limit for vessels directed fishing for pollock using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 18,316 Chinook salmon (§ 679.21(h)(2)(ii)).

The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that the vessels participating in directed fishing for pollock in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will not require 1,350 Chinook salmon of the Chinook salmon PSC limit allocated to those vessels under § 679.21(h)(2)(ii). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.21(h)(5)(iii) and taking into account the need of the sectors for Chinook salmon PSC, and following the limits set forth in § 679.21(h)(5)(iv)(D), NMFS reapportions 1,350 Chinook salmon PSC 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.

The 2021 Chinook salmon PSC limits are revised as follows: 16,966 Chinook salmon for vessels participating in directed fishing for pollock in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA (18,316 minus 1,350 Chinook salmon) and 4,410 Chinook salmon to the non-Rockfish Program catcher vessel sector participating in directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA (3,060 plus 1,350 Chinook salmon).

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 the reallocation of Chinook salmon to the non-Rockfish Program catcher vessel sector 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 16, 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.