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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Dated: January 27, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FR Doc. 202102127 Filed 12921; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 351022P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679
Docket No. 2002270066; RTID 0648
XA783

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Less Than 60 Feet 18.3 Meters Length Overall Using Hook-and-Line or Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet 18.3 meters m length overall LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area BSAI. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2021 Pacific cod total allowable catch TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet 18.3 m LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.

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This inseason action became applicable at 1200 hours, Alaska local time A.l.t., January 26, 2021, and remains in effect through 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Krista Milani, 9075812062.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 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.
The 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet 18.3 m LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 3,122 metric tons as established by the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI 85 FR 13553, March 9, 2020, inseason adjustment 85 FR 83473, December 22, 2020, and reallocation 86 FR 1301, January 8, 2021.
In accordance with 679.20d1iii, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS Regional Administrator, has determined that the 2021 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a directed fishing allowance to catcher vessels less than 60
feet 18.3 m LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific DATES:

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cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet 18.3 m LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at 679.20e and f apply at any time during a trip.
Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305d of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR
part 679, which was issued pursuant to section 304b, and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553bB, 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 closure of Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet 18.3 m LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of January 25, 2021.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.
Dated: January 27, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FR Doc. 202102133 Filed 12921; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 351022P

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